NORTON, Mass. — The sixth-seeded Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team was defeated, 4-1, by visiting number seven seed United States Coast Guard Academy this afternoon in the opening round of the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Championship Tournament at Clark Softball Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons conclude their season at 21-16. The Bears improve to 17-16 and advance to the double-elimination part of the tournament, taking on third-seeded Springfield College on Tuesday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. in Springfield.
Junior left fielder Gabby Reinbold (Sharon, Mass.) knocked in Wheaton's only run and was 1-3, while first year designated player Mady Bryan (Halifax, Mass.) was 2-3 with a run scored. Senior Peyton Blankenheim-Brown (Mira LInda, Calif.) finished 1-3 at the plate and took the loss to drop to 11-8 after giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits to go with four strikeouts in five and a third innings pitched.
Senior Dana Walker (Macon, Ga.) was 2-3 with a run batted in at the plate and was outstanding in the circle, allowing just one unearned run on seven hits and no walks to go with seven strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 13-9. First year Zoey Lynn (Nokornis, Fla.) was 2-3 on the day to contribute for Coast Guard.
The Lyons held a 1-0 lead heading into the top of the sixth inning, before things started to unravel and the Bears took advantage with four runs to get on the board. Junior center fielder Abriana Schmutz (Marysville, Ohio) and senior Bridget Bartz (Arlington, Va.) each reached on errors, before Walker laced a one-out single through the left side to plate Schmutz and knot the game at 1-1. Murphy followed with the defining blow of the game, crushing a three-run homer over the center field fence to give Coast Guard a 4-1 margin.
Wheaton's final six batters were all set down in order to seal the victory for the Bears.
The Lyons' only run of the day came in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 edge. Bryan opened the frame with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a ground out, before Reinbold served a single to right field. The Coast Guard right fielder bobbled the ball, allowing Bryan to score and give Wheaton an early one-run lead.
