Harvey's "Perfect" Game and Gola's No-Hitter Lead to M.I.T. Wins (4-11-08)

In ten innings of softball for Wellesley, the Blue came out on top twice against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) as a result of brilliant pitching performances from Seniors, Jenna Harvey and Kristie Gola. Wellesley won both games by a final tally of 8-0.

Harvey, pitching in game 1, struck out twelve batters, while Gola K'ed nine Engineers in game 2. In game 1, Wellesley struck first in the bottom of the second inning as Harvey scored on a passed ball. Three additional runs were accrued in the third inning when Sophomore, Ilana Orloff started the inning with a deep shot to right that resulted in a triple. Senior, Kara Wong's infield grounder that inning enabled Orloff to reach home. Wellesley's lead over the Engineers was doubled after Sophomore, Megan Wood, lofted a two-run blast over the left field scoreboard. At the end of the three innings, Wellesley held a 4-0 lead.

Orloff scored again in the bottom of the fourth inning when Wood singled to left field. Later that inning, two additional runs were chalked on the board as a Junior, Sam Littlejohn, double drove in two Wellesley runners who had reached base via walks. Littlejohn scored after a couple of M.I.T. errors. Due to the eight-run rule after five innings, the game was at that point complete.
Senior ace, Jenna Harvey, faced the absolute minimum number of M.I.T. batters in her star, perfect game performance.

In game 2, Gola captured her first career no-hitter and allowed only two Engineers to reach base. Gola received support from the Blue's bats early in the game as Wellesley scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Junior, Amanda Tai, looped a double to centerfield to begin the inning while Orloff reached base on an error. Both batters would eventually circle the bases that inning. Wong and Wood both hit singles, and Wong scored on an infield grounder from First-Year, Sarah Parmelee. Wellesley scored one run each in both the third and fourth innings to take a 5-0 lead. The Blue closed the day's activities in the bottom of the fifth inning as First-Year, Megan Townsend reached base on an error and scored after a Harvey double. First-Year, Brittany Bakacs, subbed in for Harvey to take on baserunning responsibilities and later scored that inning on a First-Year, Alison Davis, double to center field. Tai then ripped a single up the middle of the field that allowed Davis to score. Davis scored the eighth run of the game.

Overall, in game 2, Tai was a perfect 4-for-4 and hurler, Harvey, and Wong had two hits apiece. Harvey also added two R.B.I.s to her masterful pitching day.