THE BASICS:

- Scores:
Game 1: WPI - 4, No. 24 MIT - 2
Game 2: No. 24 MIT - 9, WPI - 1 (5 Innings)

- Records: MIT (16-9, 7-1 NEWMAC), WPI (16-12, 4-4 NEWMAC)

- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Briggs Field)

- The Lead: The No. 24 MIT softball team dropped its first NEWMAC contest of the season in game one against WPI but rebounded with a 9-1 victory in game two as first-year Becca O'Connor (San Antonio, Texas) grabbed the win and walk-off hit in the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED – Game One
 
- It was a pitcher's duel until MIT broke through in the bottom of the fifth as first-year Mikayla Cable (Valrico, Fla.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and senior Claire Wichman (Omaha, Neb.) followed with a bunt single. After a fielder's choice by junior Jordan Sell (Schwenksville, Pa), MIT executed a double steal to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Rylie Spiegel (Bradenton, Fla.) then singled home Sell to make it a 2-0 MIT lead.
 
- WPI put the tying runs in scoring position in the sixth, but senior Anya Chase (Wells, Maine) got Kelly Pritchard swinging to end the frame. In the seventh, WPI scored four runs with two outs to pull ahead 4-2, and Katie Martin retired MIT in order in the bottom of the frame to seal the win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Chase drops to 8-4 on the season as she went 6.2 innings allowing seven hits, and four runs (two earned) while striking out nine.
 
- Sophomore Mackenzie Relihan (Naperville, Ill.) led MIT with two hits in the game and five other MIT players recorded a hit in the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game Two

- WPI jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first, however, MIT quickly responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame. First-year Dana Bell (Bensalem, Pa.) plated the first run with an RBI single and came around to score on a single from sophomore Katia Pendowski (Elk Grove Village, Ill.). Sell plated two more runs with a single to center and scored on a groundout by Cable.
 
- O'Connor held the WPI bats in check allowing no walks or hits after the first inning.
 
- MIT secured the victory with a four-run fifth inning highlighted by a two-run homer to left from Pendowski. O'Connor laced a single to plate Sell and secure the 9-1 win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Pendowski finished 2-3 with three RBI in the game as she leads the team with four home runs and 19 RBI while batting .400 this season. Relihan and Cable also recorded two hits each in the game.
 
- O'Connor registered her first collegiate RBI and earned her seventh win of the season with her seven-strikeout performance. She has not walked a batter in her last seven appearances and allowed just three hits in the game.  

UP NEXT:

- MIT is back on Briggs Field tomorrow for more NEWMAC action as the Engineers welcome Springfield for a DH beginning at noon.         
 
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