MIDDLETOWN, CT. – The Wesleyan softball team competed in a double-header against NESCAC opponent Bates at home Saturday afternoon, falling in both games. The Cardinals were shut out in game one despite seven hits, dropping the opening game 5-0. In game number two the Cardinals offense got going, as a four-run bottom of the third inning cut the early deficit to from 5-0 to 5-4. The Bobcats would settle down in the circle, adding a few more insurance runs in the 4^th and 6^th innings to secure the 9-4 victory and the sweep of the Cards. Bates improves to 10-6 (4-2 NESCAC) with the two victories, while Wesleyan drops to 10-14 (0-6 NESCAC).
 
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS (5-0 LOSS)

• After a leadoff single by the Bobcats, Kelly Baker '26 retired the next two batter including a double play to get out of the first unharmed. The Cardinals threatened in the bottom half with a Hannah Docktor '24 double followed by a walk, however the runners were stranded on second and third and the game went into the 2^nd tied at zero
• Bates pushed across their first run of the game in the top of the 2^nd on three straight hits to take a 1-0 lead. They would add another in the 4^th on a sacrifice fly and headed into the 5^th with a 2-0 advantage. Wesleyan got runners on to start the 2^nd and 3^rd innings, but were not able to get one across home
• The Cardinals threatened again in the 5^th inning, as after two quick outs to open the inning, they managed to get three straight runners on to load the bases. Molly Lennon '26 started it off with a walk, followed by an Isabella Secaira-Cotto '25 single up the middle and a misplay by the Bobcats infield that loaded the bases. The Bobcats forced a groundout though, and held onto their 2-0 lead heading into the final two innings of play
• Bates got their bats going again in the top of the 7^th, putting together three hits and a hit by pitch to help push across three more insurance runs and ultimately give them a 5-0 lead going into the final half-inning. The Cards went down in order in the final frame, and the Bobcats came away with the five-run victory

NOTES:

• Baker (6.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 K's) was the starter for the Cards in this one, going over six innings for her 2^nd consecutive game
• Docktor (2-for-4) was the only Cardinal with multiple hits in the game, her 6^th multi-hit game of the season
• Wesleyan finished the game with seven hits, Bates finished with 10

 
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS (9-4 LOSS)

• After a relatively quiet first inning of action, Bates got their offense going in the top of the 2^nd. They put together three runs on four hits, including a pair of RBI-singles that got them out to an early multiple run advantage
• The third inning saw a multitude of runs from both sides. The Bobcats continued their hot start at the plate with two straight singles to open the inning, eventually pushing across two on a pair of wild pitches to extend their lead to 5-0. Wesleyan came back with a big inning of their own, pushing across four runs on five hits to trim the deficit to just one heading into the 4^th. Lizzie Marino '25 and Secaira-Cotto came through with RBI-singles, while Docktor and Lennon contributed doubles and the game was 5-4 through three innings of play
• Bates pitching locked in over the course of the final four innings, holding the Cardinals to just two hits to help secure their second victory of the day. While the pitching locked in, the bats continued to roll, adding insurance runs in the 4^th and 6^th innings to grow the Bobcats lead to 9-4

 
NOTES:

• Alexis Campbell '22 (2-for-3, R) was the lone Cardinal with two hits on the day, securing her third multi-hit game of the season
• Secaira-Cotto (1-for-2, RBI) drove in her team-leading 15^th run of the season
• Wesleyan was outhit by the Bobcats 11-7

 
UP NEXT:
Wesleyan will have a week off before returning back to their home field to play in another NESCAC double-header, this time against Bowdoin. They will play on Saturday, April 15^th at 12 and 2 pm at The Softball Field.