2008 NEWMAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT - Second-seeded Wheaton stays with number-one Wellesley before falling, 4-0

April 26, 2008

WELLESLEY, MA- After the teams combined for one run on four hits through the first six innings on Saturday, the top-seeded Wellesley College softball team pulled away from number-two Wheaton College for a 4-0 victory in the semifinal round of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament.

The Lyons fell to 29-13 and will face third-seeded Springfield College tomorrow in an elimination game at 10:00 a.m. at Wellesley. A win would propel Wheaton to its first finals appearance since 2005. The nationally-ranked Blue, which won last year's league tournament, improved to 26-6-1 and awaits the winner of the early game in the championship round. Wheaton needs three wins Sunday to capture the title.

The Lyons had the better of the opportunities in the early going against Wellesley, which sits 22nd in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, as Wheaton senior Jodi Moynagh (Worcester, MA/Holy Name Central Catholic) carried a perfect game until there were two down in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, classmate Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional) singled with one down in the first inning and stole second with two out before being stranded. In the fourth, Poulton walked leading off and moved to second on senior Erika Marini's (Pawtucket, RI/Saint Raphael Academy) bunt but went no further.

With Wheaton playing the home team, Moynagh set down the first 11 Blue hitters, including four on strikes, before senior Kara Wong (Milford, MA/Milford) reached on a two-out error in the fourth. Wong continued to third on a second miscue on the play before being thrown out at the plate.

Wellesley broke through thanks to another Lyon error in the fifth. After Moynagh retired the first two batters, an infield miscue put a runner on second, and senior starting pitcher Jenna Harvey (London, Ontario/Clarke Road Secondary School) doubled home the eventual winning run.

The sixth inning played out identically to the first for Wheaton, as Poulton singled with one down and stole second with two out before being stranded. Wellesley put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh, as a bases-loaded walk made it 2-0 before junior Amanda Tai (Melrose, MA/Melrose) doubled home two more runs with one down.

Poulton had both of Wheaton's hits, going 2-for-2 with a walk and a pair of stolen bases. Moynagh suffered the loss, yielding all four runs, three of which were earned, on three hits in 6.1 innings with two walks and six strikeouts.

Tai went 2-for-3 with two RBI for Wellesley, finishing with half of her team's four hits. Harvey notched the complete-game shutout, fanning seven and walking two.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 4/26/08.
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