NORTON, Mass. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team took advantage of a two-out error in the seventh to score a pair of runs and come away with a 6-5 walk-off victory over visiting Babson College in game one of a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference victory at Clark Softball Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.

The Lyons improve to 14-10 overall and 4-5 in NEWMAC play, while the Beavers fall to 12-16 and 4-5.

Babson opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first, before Wheaton scored three times in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 margin. The teams traded runs in the third to keep the Lyons' two-run advantage intact. The Beavers scored a lone run in the fourth to make it a one-run game, before taking the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth to go up, 5-4. 

Senior right fielder Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.) was 2-3 with a double, two runs batted in and a walk for Wheaton, while junior center fielder Gabby Reinbold (Sharon, Mass.) was 1-2 with two RBI, two walks and a run scored. Junior third base Emma Boucher (Derry, N.H.) contributed, going 1-2 with three runs scored and a pair of walks. Junior shortstop Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.) was 2-4 with a double and a stolen base. Junior starting pitcher Sofia De La Rosa (Middle Village, N.Y.) earned the victory to improve to 6-6 after tossing a complete game, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and five walks to go with seven strikeouts over seven innings.

Junior Lexi Sealey (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) was 2-3 at the plate with two RBI, two doubles and a run scored and suffered the loss in relief, giving up two unearned runs on two hits and a pair of walks to go with a strikeout in three and a third innings of work to drop to 2-2 on the season. Sophomore catcher Belle DiCampbello (Pottstown, Pa.) was 2-4 with a run batted in and junior left fielder Emily Walsh (Flemington, N.J.) was 1-3 with a triple, an RBI, two runs scored and a walk for Babson.

The Lyons rallied for two runs with two outs to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Boucher ripped a one-out single down the line and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Reinbold and Arcand followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases. Sealy struck out the next batter to put the Beavers one out away from an opening game victory. Senior catcher Riley Dolan (Coram, N.Y.) hit a ground ball to shortstop, but the middle infielder's throw was too high and both Boucher and Reinbold scored to give the home team the win.

Babson cracked the scoring column with a run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 edge. Walsh drew a lead-off walk, before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. DeCampello came through with a two-out single to center to bring home the first run of the afternoon.

Wheaton answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, receiving clutch hits from the bottom of its order. Junior second baseman Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.) drew a walk and first year designated player Mady Bryan (Halifax, Mass.) served a single to left to put runners on the corners. Boucher worked a four-pitch walk to load the bases and set up Reinbold with a two-run single to center field to give the Lyons the lead at 2-1. Arcand followed with a single to right center to plate Boucher with Wheaton's third run of the game.

The Beavers cut the deficit to a run in the top of the third, before the Lyons matched the marker in the bottom of the frame. Sealy belted a one-out double to the gap in the left center for the visitors and later scored when senior center fielder Sophia Pak (New Rochelle, N.Y.) hit a ball sharply that ricocheted off the Wheaton shortstop's glove and into left field. The Lyons got the run back when Boucher and Reinbold worked consecutive walks, before Arcand smacked a double to left center to drive in Boucher to restore Wheaton's two-run advantage.

Babson added another run in the fourth to pull within 4-3. First year second base Charly Landow (Wayne, Pa.) opened the frame with a single up the middle, before Sealy delivered a two-out double to right-center to make it a one-run game.

The Beavers tallied a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to take their first lead since the first inning at 5-4. Landow laced a lead-off single up the middle, before being lifted for first year pinch-runner Izzy Burgess (Royersford, Pa.). Walsh lifted a triple down the right field line to tie the game at 4-4 and later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Sealy to give the visitors the lead.

The teams will meet again for game two later today.