CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The MIT softball team fell to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rival, Wheaton College, at home on Saturday afternoon with a score of 6-5 in a close first game and 8-0 in the second. The Engineers dipped to 11-8 for the season and 2-4 in NEWMAC play, while the Lyons are now 16-10 and 6-2 in conference action.

The first game got off to a slow start for MIT, who trailed 6-0 in the fourth inning. At the bottom of the fourth, senior Anna Christensen (Vernon Hills, Ill.) scored off a double by classmate Leah Alpert (Needham, Mass.) and, a single by sophomore K.K. Wopat (Edwardsville, Ill.) allowed Alpert and sophomore Ellie Fodor (Trenton, Mich.) to make it home, making the score 6-3.

Sophomore Sarah Van Belleghem (Los Gatos, Calif.) scored at the bottom of the next inning and again at the bottom of the seventh. Even though the Engineers caught up greatly throughout the last innings of the game, it was not enough to catch up completely or take the lead.

Alpert was 2-for-4 with one run and three RBIs and Van Belleghem was the only MIT batter who earned two runs, going 2-for-4. In the first 3.2 innings, Fodor allowed seven hits and six runs and struck out 6. Freshman Alexandra Marshall (Glen Head, N.Y.) pitched the remaining 3.1 innings, allowing zero hits and zero runs and striking out six.

In the second game, MIT had a handful of opportunities to score, but were thwarted by the Lyons. At the bottom of the third, freshman Melissa Kreider (Branford, Conn.) doubled and advanced to third. Marshall walked, putting runners on first and third with two outs. Christensen got out at first, ending the inning and leaving two runners on base.

Both Kreider and Marshall were 1-for-2 in the second game. Marshall was at the mound for four innings, allowing four hits and six runs and striking out four. Fodor pitched the remaining two, allowing four hits and two runs, while striking out one.

The Engineers will return to action on Tuesday, April 9 when they travel a few miles down the road to face UMass Boston at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.