Sadichchha Adhikari/Staff Photographer
On Tuesday, April 22, the softball team resumed a suspended game against Amherst, which had originally started on March 29. The Cardinals, holding a one-run lead at the time the game was suspended, were able to hold off an Amherst comeback and finish with an 8-7 victory.
The game was suspended in the fifth due to a combination of rain and darkness; immediately before the suspension, starting pitcher Su Pardo ’16 surrendered a three-run home run with two outs that allowed Amherst to get back into the game. Wesleyan clung to a 7-6 lead at the time of the suspension.
The Cardinals built that lead largely on the strength of offensive standouts Abby Rutt ’17 and Jamie Hom ’17, who combined for four hits, three runs, two homers, and five RBIs on the day. Jill Gately ’15 and Amanda Roosa ’16 also contributed an RBI each.
By the time the game resumed play on April 22, both teams were playing for pride. Williams and Middlebury had already clinched the two playoff spots from the NESCAC West division, so neither Wesleyan nor Amherst would be heading to the postseason regardless of the outcome of the game. However, pitted against their rivals, the Cardinals came into the remainder of the game highly motivated and hoping to avoid being swept in all of their 2014 Little Three games.
Returning to the mound when the game picked up again, Pardo promptly struck out the next batter she faced to send things to the bottom of the fifth.
The Wesleyan offense was unable to secure any insurance runs in its first frame back at bat. Pardo, Mollie Grunat ’16, and Angelina Massoia ’17 were retired in order. The missed opportunity for extra run support would have been helpful, which Amherst made evident in the top of the sixth.
After striking out the first batter of the sixth inning, Pardo allowed a single, a stolen base, and then another single to give up the game-tying run. Pardo was able to finish the inning without further incident, but heading into the bottom of the sixth, the score stood at 7-7.
Captain Amy Lindland ’14 led off the bottom of the sixth with an infield single and then made a gutsy move by rounding second and heading to third on Hom’s subsequent sacrifice bunt. Hom was thrown out by the Amherst third baseman to the second baseman, who was covering first after the first baseman had charged in on the bunt attempt. The second baseman, upon seeing Lindland headed for third, made an errant throw and allowed Lindland to score, putting Wesleyan up 8-7. The Cardinals would not score again, but that eighth run would prove to be all they needed. Pardo retired the Amherst hitters in order on two strikeouts and a foul to close out the top of the seventh and the game.
The Cardinals will play their last game of the season, a non-NESCAC West matchup against Trinity, on Saturday, April 26. The game will take place on Senior Day.