Game 1
Box Score
Game 2
Box Score
MIDDLETOWN, CT. — It was a cold, blustery Easter for the
Williams College softball team, which settled for a split with
Little 3 rival Wesleyan. After holding on for an 18-14 victory in
the first game, the Ephs dropped a key 6-4 decision in the
nightcap, falling to 7-11 overall and 3-3 in the NESCAC West.
Wesleyan improved to 11-13 overall and a division-leading 6-3 in
the conference.
The Ephs jumped out to a 17-0 lead in game one by the third
inning, but had to hold on for a 18-14 win. Becky Sansone had a
grand slam and Joey Lye a three-run shot in the win.
In the nightcap, Wesleyan countered with its' own big inning, a
five-run bottom of the third. Williams trailed 5-1 entering the top
of the sixth, but rallied for two runs.
Sansone was hit by a pitch to start the frame and Jess Cross
pinch-ran for her. Morgan Simpson beat out an infield hit. After an
out, Emily Fowler-Cornfeld crushed a liner to right that Cardinals'
right fielder Katie Grogan made a nice backhanded stab off back
near the warning track, saving a run momentarily as Cross tagged up
and advanced to third. Libby Copeland-Halperin then roped a
two-strike double to left center that cut the Ephs deficit to 5-3.
Wesleyan tacked on an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth
for a 6-3 lead, but the Ephs would not go quietly. Oriana Mcgee led
off the top of the seventh by slapping a single to short. After Lye
popped out behind the second base bag, Caitlyn Cain lined a single
to left. Sansone then grounded an RBI-single back up the middle.
But Cardinal starter Meghan Dendy bore down to strikeout the
next two Ephs batters and leave the tying runs on first and second.
Mary Beth Daub took the loss for Williams, allowing six runs,
five earned, while walking four and allowing eight hits over six
innings. She struck out one. Copeland-Halperin was 2 for 3 with
three RBI for the Ephs.
The Ephs had 17 runs in their pocket before Wesleyan batted in
the bottom of the third in the opening game. In the first, Simpson
roped an RBI-double and three Wesleyan errors gave the Ephs a 4-0
lead. In the second, Mcgee, Lye and Cain all singled to load the
bases for Sansone, who crushed a grand slam home run to left-center
field for an 8-0 lead.
In the third, Mcgee had an RBI-single and Lye roped a three-run
home run. Simpson added an RBI-double and Copeland-Halperin a
two-run single before sophomore Carly Ameen capped the nine-run
inning with her first collegiate homer, a two-run shot to left.
Wesleyan rallied with four in its half of the third, three in
the fourth and seven in the fifth to make it a 17-14 score.
Simpson started for the Ephs, was relieved by Fowler-Cornfeld in
the fourth, then relieved Fowler-Cornfeld in the fifth. She got the
win, going six full innings and allowing 12 hits and eight runs,
seven earned, while walking two and striking out four.
Sansone was 3 for 4 with five RBI and three runs scored. Lye was
3 for 3 with four runs scored and three RBI. Simpson was 3 for 5
with two RBI.
