WATERVILLE, Me. – The Wesleyan softball team exploded for nine runs in the 5^th inning of game two, proving more than enough in a 10-1 mercy rule win in five innings, giving the Cardinals a split in a Friday doubleheader at Colby. The Cardinals (16-8, 6-4 NESCAC) dropped game one to the Mules (10-8, 4-2 NESCAC) by a score of 2-0.
 
The Cardinals fell victim to an impressive pitching display in game one as Colby's starter KC DeSarno threw five shutout innings before giving way to Sophia Meade who recorded the save with two innings of scoreless one-hit ball.
 
Facing her old team, graduate transfer Abby Orso G'25 got the start in game one for Wesleyan and suffered a hard luck defeat as she threw six innings allowing just three hits and two runs (one earned) with two walks and eight strikeouts.
 
Colby struck for one run in the 1^st inning when Ella Wilcox ripped a two-out RBI single up the middle to score Emma Burnham from third. The Mules tacked on another run in the 3^rd inning, benefitting from an error in the inning to score an unearned run on a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
Wesleyan had baserunners in all but one inning in game one, but only two advanced to second base and none reached third base as the Cardinals couldn't generate any offense against the combo of DeSarno and Meade.
 
Looking to shake off the game one defeat, Wesleyan struck for the opening run in game two with a two-out single from Isabella Secaira-Cotto '25 that saw Molly Lennon '26 score from first as Colby's center fielder made a fielding error, causing Lennon to score on the play.
 
Jacelyn Lees '28 meanwhile retired the first eight batters she saw, allowing her first baserunner on a bunt single in the bottom of the 3^rd inning. Colby managed to tie the score in the 4^th as a leadoff bunt single was followed by a sacrifice bunt, stolen base, and sacrifice fly to center.
 
The game then took a decisive turn in the 5^th inning when the Cardinals plated nine runs on seven hits. Sam Chappell '28 started with a double to center and Lennon drove her in on a home run out to left that made it 3-1 Wesleyan. The next two batters singled and Cat Palmer '26 from in a run on a fielder's choice bunt back to the pitcher. Now with runners on first and third, Lees helped her own caused with a two-run double to left center. Later with the bases loaded and two outs, Chappell drew an RBI walk to give the Cardinals a 7-1 lead. Three more runs then came in on two plays, with Colby committing multiple errors to put the game out of reach.
 
Spotted with a nine-run lead, Lees needed one more shutdown inning to finish off the win and she did just that with a shutout bottom of the 5^th inning, giving the Cardinals a 10-1 win by mercy rule in five innings.
 
Wesleyan totaled 11 hits with Secaira-Cotto finishing 3-for-4 to lead the team. Lennon and Cassel-Siskind each went 2-for-4 with Lennon adding 2 RBI and two runs scored. Waverly Smart '27 went 2-for-3 with a triple and Chappell went 1-for-2 with two runs, 1 RBI, and one walk.
 
Lees picked up the win with just three hits and one run allowed in five innings with no walks and one strikeout.
 
Wesleyan has a busy week ahead with six total games, starting with a home doubleheader on Thursday starting at 3 PM against Westfield State.