MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – One day removed from getting swept at home by league-leading Tufts, the Wesleyan softball team responded in a big way, landing a pair of wins over Colby in a doubleheader at home on Sunday. Wesleyan (13-15, 4-8 NESCAC) took game one by a 3-1 score and won 7-3 in game two, representing the first two wins in team history over Colby (12-14, 4-6 NESCAC) as the Cardinals came into today with an 0-4 all-time mark against the Mules.
 
Isabella Secaira-Cotto '25 was stellar once again for the Cardinals, going the distance in game one with just five hits and one run allowed with no walks and three strikeouts. The junior needed just 64 pitches to land the victory as she shaves her ERA down to 1.70 in six NESCAC starts this season.
 
The Cardinal offense manufactured a pair of runs in the 2^nd inning as Nicole Celi '27 doubled to lead off the inning, followed by a single to center and stolen base for Lizzie Marino '25 that put two runners in scoring position with no one out. Hannah Docktor '24 plated one run on a bunt back to the pitcher as Celi beat the throw home and another run came in on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
 
Wesleyan turned an unconventional inning-ending double play in the 3^rd as Kat Xiong grounded to Waverly Smart '27 at short who threw to Cat Palmer '26 at first for the first out. Carissa Cassidy, who was one second base, attempted to take third base on the play but Palmer alertly threw to Jordynn Killion '27 covering the bag at third to gun down Cassidy.
 
That double play in the 3^rd started a string of 11 straight batters retired by Secaira-Cotto as the Cardinal starter went on cruise control, setting the stage for a 7^th inning where Colby made a late comeback bid. With one out and a runner on second, Juliana Kiley hit a single to right that scored pinch runner Caroline DeSimone, but Kiley attempted to take second on the throw home and was tagged out to leave no runners on with two outs. Secaira-Cotto finished off the game with a groundout to short, giving Wesleyan a 3-1 victory.
 
Looking for the sweep in game two, the top of the order came through in a big way for Wesleyan as the combination of Smart, Rebecca Cassel-Siskind '26, Marino, and Killion combined to go 7-for-14 with 6 RBI, two walks, and six runs scored in the 7-3 win.
 
Colby took a 1-0 lead in the 1^st on a Chloe Wilcox sacrifice fly. Revi Brown '23 escaped trouble in the 2^nd as they induced back-to-back pop outs after the Mules had two runners in scoring position with one out.
 
A four-run 3^rd inning gave the Cardinals the lead as the inning started with four straight singles including RBI base knocks from Cassel-Siskind and Marino. Later in the inning with two outs, Secaira-Cotto came through with an RBI single to center to score Killion from third and make It 4-1 Cardinals.
 
Kelly Baker '26 worked her second scoreless inning of relief in the top of the 4^th and the Cardinals plated another run in the bottom of the 4^th as Killion's RBI groundout to short scored Smart from third.
 
After making several lineup changes to start the 6^th inning, Alexis Amante '26 threw a dart to second base as she caught DeSimone stealing for the second out of the inning. However, Colby's Emma Burnham doubled on the next at-bat and Wilcox hit an RBI single back up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-3. Relief pitcher Ella DeCrescenzo '27 bore down and got Katelyn Hays to strike out swinging to end the inning.
 
Killion came through with a clutch two-run single up the middle as a couple insurance runs for the Cardinals restored their four-run lead heading into the 7^th. In that final inning, DeCrescenzo threw another shutout inning to finish off the win and record her first career save.
 
Marino went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI for the Cardinals while Cassel-Siskind went 1-for-2 with two walks, 1 RBI, and two runs. Smart finished 2-for-4 with three runs and Killion recorded 3 RBI.
 
Baker went three innings in relief, allowing just two hits, one run, and one walk with two strikeouts. Brown allowed one run in two innings to start the game. DeCrescenzo held the Mules in the final two innings, allowing just one run.
 
Wesleyan is back in action next weekend with a trip to Maine, starting with a Saturday doubleheader at Bates starting at Noon before traveling to Bowdoin for another doubleheader next Sunday.