Harvey's No-Hitter Sparks Sixth-Seeded Wellesley To 1-0 Victory Over Babson In 2007 NEWMAC Softball Championship, Blue Claims Crown In Third Year As Varsity Program

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Wellesley College junior starter Jenna Harvey (London, Ontario) fired a no-hitter, striking out 10 and walking four in seven complete innings of work as the sixth-seeded Blue defeated No. 3 Babson College, 1-0, this afternoon in the championship game of the 2007 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Tournament at Springfield College’s Potter Field.

The Wellesley College softball team, which is in just its third year of existence, has captured its first-ever NEWMAC title and has earned a berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Blue (22-12) did so by going a perfect 4-0 on the week, beating No. 3 Babson and No. 2 Wheaton on Wednesday by scores of 2-0 and 11-8, respectively, as Wellesley then knocked off top-seeded SC yesterday (4-2), and capped its championship run with the 1-0 win today.

With today’s score still knotted at zero going into the bottom half of the seventh inning, the Blue needed some offense if it were to avoid extra innings. Sophomore Amanda Tai (Melrose, Mass.) reached base to start the seventh frame when she got hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Beej Grundlock (Blackwood, N.J.) to advance Tai to second, freshman Ilana Orloff (Weston, Mass.) reached on an error as Grundlock remained at second. Freshman leadoff hitter Megan Wood (Jacksonville, Fla.) then came to the plate and delivered a clutch hit to right center to drive in Tai for the winning run.

Despite the loss, Babson College junior righty Jess Bryn (Safety Harbor, Fla.) pitched great in defeat for the Beavers. The junior allowed just three hits in the game and the one earned run, while striking out seven and walking just two. Bryn falls to 7-5 overall on the season, as Babson is now 25-16-1 overall on its campaign.

Wellesley College has received the automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament with its performance this weekend and will learn of its opponent and date of competition at a later time.