CLERMONT, Fla. –  The Wesleyan softball team had to fight through multiple 90+ minute rain delays before ultimately prevailing in a 4-3 win over Smith College on Monday afternoon. The Cardinals (6-3) get back to winning ways while Smith (1-2) falls in just their third game of the season.
 
In a game that was originally scheduled to start at 9 AM, the first pitch wasn't thrown until 11:30 AM as rain delayed the start. Wesleyan loaded the bases in the 1^st but couldn't bring any runs across while Smith did the same in the bottom half, getting one run to score on a wild pitch.
 
The Cardinals answered right back in the 2^nd as the first four batters of the inning all reached base, with Molly Lennon '26 walking in a run with the bases loaded. Then later in the frame, Cat Palmer '26 reached on a fielding error that allowed Kelly Baker '26 to score from third as Wesleyan held a 2-1 lead.
 
Wesleyan increased their lead with another two-run inning, doing all their damage with two outs in the 4^th. After the first two Cardinals were retired in-order, Lennon lofted a solo shot over the fence out in center field for her second home run of the season. Kate Foley '28 then slapped a bunt single back to the pitch before stealing second and crossing home on a Jordynn Killion '27 RBI single out to center.
 
Starting pitcher Whitney Gigante '28 ran into some trouble in the 4^th as Smith loaded the bases with one out. Ella DeCrescenzo '27 entered for Gigante and got her first batter to pop out but Ally Knutson followed with a two-run double out to center. The bases loaded again on a hit by pitch, but DeCrescenzo escaped, leaving the bases loaded on a Elinor Washington pop out to short.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the 5^th and an 0-2 count on the Smith batter, the game was forced into another extended rain delay as the two sides waited more than 90 minutes before resuming play. DeCrescenzo continued to throw well, leaving a Smith runner stranded on third in the 6^th.
 
Then in the 7^th, Violet Peverly led off with a single to left, but was caught stealing second on a thrown down from Alexis Amante '26. That play was crucial as Riley Veenstra singled to left just one batter later. Smith had the go-ahead run on first base with two outs, but DeCrescenzo got the job done with a fielder's choice out to short to end it.
 
Lennon reached base safely in all four plate appearances, walking three times while her lone hit was a home run as the senior finished with two RBI and one run scored. DeCrescenzo picked up the win, throwing 3.2 scoreless relief innings with four hits allowed and no walks.
 
Wesleyan completes its Spring Break trip to Florida with a Tuesday doubleheader against Wisconsin-Whitewater and Wellesley.