Lachance cracks pair of home runs as Lyons complete victory at Babson

April 14, 2006

BABSON PARK, MA- In a game suspended after four innings on April 7, the Wheaton College softball team moved into first place in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) by completing a 5-1 victory over Babson College on Thursday behind junior Nicole Lachance's (Rochester, NH/Spaulding) two home runs.

Wheaton reached the 20-win plateau for the 13th straight season in moving to 20-8 overall and 8-2 in the league, while the Beavers are 19-7 and 6-2. The teams played four innings on April 7, as the Lyons held a 4-1 lead before rain forced suspension of the contest. Lachance's two-homer display was the first for a Wheaton player since March 12, 2002, and the first in conference action since April 30, 2000.

Lachance, the reigning NEWMAC Player of the Week, led off the contest with a solo home run that curled inside the left-field foul pole. Babson threatened in the bottom half of the first, putting two runners on with one out and loading the bases with two down, but sophomore hurler Jodi Moynagh (Worcester, MA/Holy Name Central Catholic) ended the inning by inducing a tapper back to the circle.

The Lyons tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning behind junior Keely Nowosacki's (Shrewsbury, MA/Shrewsbury) RBI single and sophomore Erika Marini's (Pawtucket, RI/Saint Raphael Academy) two-run triple off the right field fence.

Babson came away empty despite putting at least one runner on base in each of the first three innings before breaking through against Moynagh in the fourth, as senior Erica Berry (Malden, MA/Austin Prep) homered to cut the Beavers' deficit to 4-1. However, the rain came following the completion of the fourth inning.

Six days later, Lachance led off the fifth by taking the first pitch of resumed play over the right field fence for the game's final run. Wheaton's only other hit during the final three innings came off the bat of sophomore Abby Taylor (Wellesley, MA/Wellesley), who stroked a single into left field in the seventh for the starting center fielder's first collegiate hit.

The Beavers mounted a threat in the bottom of the seventh, as the first two Babson players reached base, but Moynagh snagged a line drive and tossed to junior Jessica DePolito (Taunton, MA/Coyle and Cassidy) at first base to complete a double play. Moynagh finished the game by fielding a grounder back to the circle.

Lachance and sophomore Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional) each went 2-for-4, while Moynagh allowed one run on seven hits during her complete-game effort, striking out seven and walking two. Barry was 2-for-3, while junior Stacy Schlicht (Hillsborough, CA/Notre Dame) went the route, yielding five earned runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking two.

Wheaton continues league play with the first of two weekend NEWMAC doubleheaders on Friday afternoon, as the Lyons host the United States Coast Guard Academy at 3:00 p.m.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 4/14/06.
Questions about this page? Use our query form.

News

Wheaton graduate Powers selected to guide Lyon softball program (more)

Kelleher becomes ninth Wheaton softball player to be named All-American (more)

Kelleher and Moynagh each earn NFCA All-New England accolades (more)

Upcoming Schedule

7-12-Mar Sat-Thu Spring Trip N TBA
19-Mar Thu Bridgewater St. (2) H 3:00pm
21-Mar Sat Coast Guard (2) H 12:00pm