BANGOR, Maine – After falling behind 2-0, the MIT softball team scored the next seven runs to earn a 7-2 win over Colby in the NCAA Bangor Regional at Robert & Frances O'Keefe Softball Field on the campus of Husson University.  

With two outs, Juliana Kiley doubled to left center and Ella Wilcox worked a walk. Victoria Ramirez tripled to right to give the Mules a 2-0 lead. Maggie Feng caught a line drive off the bat of Avery Lyman to end the inning. 

Layla Thiessen led off the bottom of the first with a triple to right and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ava Ladd. Holland Poe hit a double and Lauren Sundquist followed with a walk, but the Mules were able to escape the inning with the lead. 

Lyman singled to lead off the fourth and took second on an error. A sacrifice bunt advanced her to third, and Kelsey Sullivan worked a walk to put runners on the corners with one out. Julia Berry singled to load the bases, but the Engineers got Lyman at home on a fielder's choice, and Emma Burnham flied out to Poe in right to end the inning.  

Feng worked a walk to lead off the fourth and then stole second. Julia Mattiace, Olivia Scarpaci and Delaney Benevides all singled with Scarpaci's single scoring Feng with the tying run. Thiessen worked a four-pitch walk to score Mattiace with the go-ahead run, and Ladd hit their second sac fly of the game to put MIT up 4-2. Kumar then singled up the middle to score Thiessen and Benevides and give the Engineers a 6-2 advantage.  

Juliana Kiley reached base and a wild pitch sent her to second with one out. Ramirez then singled to put runners on the corners, but MIT turned a 4-3 double play to get out of the inning.  

After Sharona Huang got Colby in order in the sixth, Kumar added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning with a double. Huang then closed the door in the seventh, again getting Colby in order with a groundout to Kumar, ending the game.  

Emily Watson went the first four innings to earn her 11th win. She allowed just two runs (one earned) on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Huang earned her first save as she went the final three innings, allowing just one hit with three Ks. 

Thiessen went 1-3 from the leadoff spot with two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Kumar led the way with three RBI.  Kumar, Poe, and Mattiace all had two hits in the game. 

Ramirez led Colby with two hits. 

MIT will take on Endicott in the winner's bracket game on Friday, May 15 at 11:00 AM. The loser of the game will then face an elimination game at 4:30 PM, while the winner will advance to Saturday's regional championship.  

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 13 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Saint Anselm College (beginning reclassification process with NCAA in 2027-28), Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 21 sports.