SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - In the opening round of the 2013 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Tournament, fifth-seeded MIT fell to fourth-seeded Wellesley College with a score of 2-0. This is the first time since the 2005 season that the Engineers have made it to the NEWMAC tournament. MIT dipped to 17-13 for the season, while the Blue moved to 22-12.

Wellesley earned its first run in the bottom of the first inning, when Lauren Goldfarb reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored off Jayne Ellis' base knock to right field.

MIT threatened in the top of the fourth, as singles from senior Leah Alpert (Needham, Mass.) and sophomore Kelly Wang (La Canada, Calif.) put runners on first and second with just one out. With a new pitcher, however, the remaining two batters struck out, leaving two on base at the end of the inning.

Wellesley added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving them a 2-0 lead. The Engineers played strongly in the bottom of the seventh inning, as a double from sophomore Sarah Van Belleghem (Los Gatos, Calif.) and an infield single from Alexandra Marshall (Glen Head, N.Y.) put runners on first and third with two outs. Senior Anna Christensen (Vernon Hills, Ill.) reached first on fielder's choice but Marshall was out at second, ending the game with a Wellesley victory.

Van Belleghem went 2-for-3 and Wang was 1-for-2. Sophomore Ellie Fodor (Trenton, Mich.) threw all six innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. She walked a pair and struck out three, moving to 10-6 on the season. 

The Blue will face top seeded Springfield College later on today, while the Engineers will next play Babson College on Saturday, May 4 in game six of the tournament.