Softball Takes Eventual Champs to 11 Innings in NESCAC Semifinals
The Colby Softball team entered the NESCAC tournament as the 3rd seed and had their sights set on the program's first NESCAC title. With wins over the conference's top-six teams during the regular season (splits with No. 1 Tufts, No. 2 Middlebury, No. 4 Bowdoin, No. 6 Trinity, and a sweep over No. 5 Williams), the Mules were ready to gameplan against anyone they faced.
Colby benefited from early scores in Saturday's quarterfinal matchup with Trinity, crossing the plate once in the first and three times in the second to build out a four run lead. The Bantams were able to scrape across a solo run in the fourth, but the Mules preserved their lead the rest of the way behind stellar pitching by Sophia Meade (headline photo). The sophomore lefty twirled a complete-game gem, striking out six while scattering four hits. Six different Mules collected hits led by Julia Berry with a single and a triple.
In Sunday's semifinal against Middlebury, early offense again played a factor. The two teams traded runs in the first and Colby's three runs in the third were answered by two for Middlebury in the bottom of the frame. Both squads had great pitching and tremendous defensive play throughout, thwarting multiple scoring opportunities on both sides in later innings. The Panthers managed to tally the equalizer with two outs in the seventh, and despite sharp defensive play and another incredible performance by Meade in the circle, Middlebury outlasted the Mules to take the game 6-4 in the 11th. Juliana Kiley led all hitters with four hits with Carissa Cassidy right behind with three.
The Panthers would go on to defeat Williams in the championship game 7-5.
Despite falling short of the conference crown, Colby's season will continue as the Mules received news of their first NCAA tournament berth on Monday.
Women's Lacrosse Battles Cortland in NCAA Tournament
Back in the NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive season, Colby's Women's Lacrosse team faced off with SUNY Cortland on Saturday with the winner set to take on host Wesleyan.
The Red Dragons ran out to an early lead, tallying four straight goals to open the contest. Colby answered back with a goal to close the first quarter and another to open the second, but Cortland's offense stayed sharp to extend their lead to 7-3 at halftime.
The SUNYAC champions kept the pressure on, outscoring Colby 5-2 in the third frame. Despite three scores by the Mules in the fourth, Cortland advanced with a 14-8 victory. Joselyn Silva led Colby with a hat trick, and Charlotte Michener and Olivia Kraus each registered three points to drive Colby's offense. Gisele Uva was a force on defense with six ground balls and five caused turnovers.
The Mules end their season with a 9-8 record.
Crew Competes at NESCAC Championship
Colby's Crew teams returned to Worcester this weekend for the National Invitational Rowing Championship, also serving as the NESCAC championship regatta. The men's V8 reached the Grand Final and placed 6th out of 14 boats (also 6th for NESCAC). The women's V8 squad rowed in the Petit Final, finishing 9th out of 19 teams (good for 6th in the conference).
Selections for the NCAA Championship (women) and IRA Championship (men) will be announced this week.
NESCAC Announces Tennis Awards
Track & Field Continues Postseason Push at FIRE Elite
The Championship season continued this week for Colby's Track & Field teams as athletes look to hit qualifying marks for the NCAA Championship event in two weeks. Selections are made based on event ranking lists, which will fluctuate all the way up to the final day (Friday, May 15).
Colby had several athletes take to the oval at Williams College for this weekend's FIRE Elite meet. The Mules took home the crown in the men's 4x400 Relay, and once again set the bar for the field in the Pole Vault, placing three competitors in the top-10.
TOP-10 PERFORMANCES:
- 1st - 4x400 Relay: Samuel Graubart, Mark Graubart, Jackson Coelho, Levi Biery
- 2nd - Lexington Lehnert, Pole Vault
- 4th - Logan Lehnert, Pole Vault
- 9th - Stephen White, 5000m
- 10th - Wyatt Patterson, Pole Vault
- 10th - Brady Clegg, Steeplechase
The Mules will have one more shot to hit qualifying marks this week (AARTFC Championships in Collegeville, Pa.) before the NCAA Championship squads are announced. The national meet will be hosted by the University of Wisc.- La Crosse May 21-23.
Special thank you to the photographers who helped make this production possible: Wendy Adam P'27, Bonnie Baker Photography, Phillip Belena Photography, Stephen R. Clouthier, Alexis Coates '28, Ashley Conti, Traigh DeMasi '28, Matthew Freeman '29, Steve Fuller @flyingpoint, Rob Hess, Josie Kim '29, Peter Li '26, Jennifer Maguire P'26, Michael Maher, Logan Marku '28, Jarin Pressman '29, Gregory Rec, Reese Robinson '27, Daryn Slover P'28, Isadora Wells '26, Ansley White '26, and the Colby Communications team.