Robert Dickey
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD —As the Springfield College softball team took the field on Saturday, the last thing they expected was an easy game. The Pride were just coming off some closely contested games in their last few contests, and were riding the momentum of a road win against Coast Guard into a doubleheader against Wheaton on Saturday.
Despite expectations for a close game, the Pride blew the doors off Wheaton in the first game of the two game set on Alden Street. The game was shortened to just five innings once the Pride held a 14-2 lead through five innings as the mercy rule was in effect.
Shelby Allen got the start for Springfield, improving her record to 5-4 with the win. Allen went all five innings, giving up just two runs while striking out 6 in the process. It was another impressive outing for the senior who also got the win in the Pride’s last game against Coast Guard.
On the offensive end, the Pride jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Allen was the center of attention as she roped a three run no-doubt home run with two outs in the inning. The score would not hold up very long though, as Wheaton battled back to get two of their own in the second.
In the third inning, the home team now up 4-2, the rally started. Springfield tallied eight runs on six hits. Hannah Salvietti started the RBI train, grabbing one while reaching on a fielder’s choice. Marisa Valenti doubled in a run and advanced Salvietti to third and the two were brought home on a single up the middle by Sara Mulligan. The party continued when Alexyss Conley singled home Mulligan and Meghan Sastram, who had just doubled. Up for the second time this inning, Allen drove in the final two runs of the inning with another single.
The Pride tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth and Allen was able to hold Wheaton scoreless in the top half of the inning, which triggered the mercy rule. The clear star of the game, Allen drove in five runs and was a triple shy of the cycle on offense to go along with her pitching line.
Springfield lost the second game of their double header against Wheaton later that afternoon and now have a record of 11-11 overall. They will travel to play Wellesley on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy Springfield College Athletics