WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — It wasn't a typical spring for the Williams College softball team — or any spring sports team for that matter — but the Ephs didn't let that detract them from reaching perfection.
With a 4-1 win over Wesleyan Sunday on Cole Field, the Ephs finished the 2021 regular-season a tidy 12-0 overall, 12-0 in divisional play. Along the way, Williams won the NESCAC West Divisional title and the Little 3 championship. They will host NESCAC East Division champion Tufts next weekend in a best-of-three series to determine the NESCAC champion.
Sunday's game was Senior Day for the Ephs five soon-to-graduate members —
Kirstin Mapes,
Gabi Cirigliano,
Dacia Green,
Cris McElhinney and
Jenny Hickey — and they played a big role in the come-from-behind victory.
After Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Ephs tied the game in their half of the frame. Kelly McGuigan grounded a single back up the middle and Mapes followed with a lienr to center that chased McGuigan to third. Cirigliano then hit a chopper off the glove of Wesleyan's pitcher and picked up an infield single that scored McGuigan. Williams took the lead for good in the bottom of the second when
Aly Granados drove the ball to deep right field. Racing to third with a triple, she scored when the relay throw was overthrown for an error.
It stayed 2-1 as Mapes and Wesleyan hurler Revi Brown repeated ther duel from Saturday in which Williams emerged a 2-1 victor. The Ephs finally were able to tack on an insurance run in the fifth when Mapes reached on an error and, after an out, Green drew a free pass. With two outs, Hickey delivered when she served a soft liner into center for an RBI-single and a 3-1 advantage. Williams added another run in the sixth when McGuigan, Mapes, and finally Cirigliano came through with back-to-back-to-back singles with two outs.
Mapes closed out the win, finishing the regular-season 7-0. She allowed only two hits in the game, both in the first inning, while walking three and striking out eight.
Williams finished with 11 hits. McGuigan went 3 for 4. Cirigliano was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Hickey was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Mapes was 2 for 4. Green was 0 for2 with 2 walks. McElihinney was 1 for 3. Granados was 1 for 2 with a run scored.
