KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Senior pitcher Peyton Blankenheim-Brown (Rio Linda, Calif.) hit a three-run homer and allowed just one run over seven innings from the circle to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team to an 8-1 victory over Washington & Jefferson College this morning at Fortune Road Athletic Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. as part of The Spring Games.
The Lyons improve to 5-0 on the season and have yet to allow more than two runs in any game, while the Presidents fall to 1-4.
Blankenheim-Brown allowed just four hits and no walks, while striking out four batters to improve to 3-0 on the season. At the plate, she was 2-4 with three RBI and a run scored for Wheaton. Junior shortstop Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.) was 2-4 with three runs batted in and scored a pair of runs and first year left fielder Julia Miller (Cheshire, Conn.) was 3-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.
Sophomore catcher Maddie Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa.) paced Washington & Jefferson at the plate, going 1-3 with a run batted in, while senior shortstop Hannan Allen (Harrison City, Pa.) contributed with a single in three at-bats to go with a run scored. Senior right-handed starting pitcher Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa.) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on three and two-thirds innings pitched on six hits to drop to 0-2 on the year.
The Lyons cracked the scoring column in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 edge. Senior right fielder Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.) led off the frame with a double to left and later scored on a ground out from Molinari.
Wheaton tacked on two more runs in the fourth to increase its margin to 3-0. The Lyons opened the frame with three consecutive singles. Molinari and Blankenheim-Brown each reached on a base knock, before Blankenheim-Brown was lifted for sophomore pinch-runner Alli Wisnouskas (Longmeadow, Mass.). A wild pitch put Molinari and Wisnouskas into scoring position before junior third base Emma Boucher (Derry, N.H.) served a single to center to plate Molinari with the second Wheaton run. Wisnouskas was later forced out at the plate on a fielder's choice by senior catcher Riley Dolan (Coram, N.Y.), but Boucher advanced to third on the play. Miller came through with a two-out single to the pitcher to score Boucher to make it 3-0.
The Presidents scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to 3-1. Following two quick outs, Allen and sophomore first base Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa.) connected for back-to-back singles, before a single down the right field line off the bat of Maddie Luxenberger brought Allen around to score and break up the shutout.
The Lyons rallied for five runs in the seventh to leave no doubt of the outcome. Miller and Arcand sandwiched singles around an out to open the inning, before junior second base Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.) drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Molinari delivered a two-run single up the middle to score both runners and pad Wheaton's lead to 5-1. Blankenheim-Brown continued the Lyons' offensive outburst with a three-run round-tripper to give Wheaton a seven-run cushion.
Blankenheim-Brown worked around a single in the seventh to secure the win for the Lyons.
Wheaton returns to the diamond later today when it takes on Loras College at 2:30 p.m., while W&J plays Russell Sage College at 12:30 p.m.
