Sports Shorts
Men’s Heavyweight Crew Finishes Close Second at Alumni Cup
MIT’s varsity heavyweight crew began its spring season with a strong showing against one of the best crews in the country, finishing less than two seconds behind Columbia in the Alumni Cup. Columbia, which finished sixth at last year’s national championships, entered the campaign ranked No. 8 in the nation.
The Engineers gave Columbia all it could handle, fighting the Lions for every stroke of the wind-shortened 1300 meter course. Holy Cross finished third, six seconds behind MIT.
MIT’s freshman crew dominated its race, finishing several lengths ahead of the Columbia and Holy Cross frosh boats.
—James Kramer, DAPER STAFF
Engineers Split with Springfield in Softball Doubleheader
Freshman pitcher Jessica L. Iacobucci ’12 earned her second complete-game shutout of the season and Keri A. Dixon ’12 chipped in 3 RBI and a run scored to help the MIT softball team earn its first ever win over Springfield, a 5-0 decision in game one of a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader on Sunday. The Pride rebounded to win game two, 14-0, in just five innings. With the split, MIT moves to 5-10 on the season and 2-2 in conference play. Springfield’s ledger now stands at 8-14 overall and 3-3 in the NEWMAC.
In the opener, the Engineers struck for five runs in the third, which would be more than enough support for their rookie hurler, who only allowed two runners to advance past first all day.
Jessica M. Oleinik ’11 singled home catcher Jennifer Li ‘11 with no one out in the third to put the Cardinal and Grey on the board. Dixon then hit a bases clearing, three-run double to open up a 4-0 lead. She would later score on Iacobucci’s sacrifice fly.
Springfield’s only threat of the game came in the top of the third, as a single and a pair of two-out walks loaded the bases for Jaimie Moran. However, Iacobucci induced an inning-ending pop out to escape the jam.
Iacobucci allowed just three hits while striking out six in seven innings of work for the shutout win. Springfield pitcher Samantha Rhodes earned the loss, surrendering five runs on nine hits over six innings.
The Pride responded early in the second contest, taking advantage of five walks by Oleink and striking for nine runs in the game’s first two innings. A seven-run second turned the tide in Springfield’s favor and proved to be too much for the hosts to overcome. Michelle Wlosek had the key hit in the second, a bases loaded, three-run double to the gap in right-centerfield. The junior catcher finished the game 3-for-3 with four RBI, two runs and a walk.
Oleinik lasted just an inning and two-thirds, allowing eight earned runs on just three hits and five walks.
Springfield starter Megan Fitzgerald tossed five innings of four-hit ball to earn the win in game two.
MIT will travel to Smith on Monday, April 6 for a makeup of last Friday’s scheduled doubleheader. The first pitch of game one is at 3:30 p.m. The Pride visit Keene State for two games on Tuesday, starting at 3:30 p.m.
—Greg McKeever, DAPER STAFF