MEDFORD, Mass. – Sixth-seeded Bates College saw its 2025 season come to a close Saturday, falling to No. 3 seed Wesleyan University, 4–2, in the quarterfinal round of the NESCAC Softball Championship Tournament at Tufts University's Spicer Field.

The Bobcats jumped out to an initial 1-0 lead in the first inning when SS Ella Maher (2-for-3, two runs scored) singled and later scored on a fielding error. Wesleyan responded with a three-run fourth inning, highlighted by a solo home run from 2B Molly Lennon and RBI knocks from starting pitcher Abby Orso and SS Waverly Smart.

The Cardinals added an insurance run in the fifth before Bates narrowed the gap in the sixth when Maher doubled and came around to score on a fielder's choice by LF Sienna Pietrasiewicz, but the Bobcats were unable to mount a late rally.

Orso (9-5) earned the complete-game win for Wesleyan, striking out six while scattering three hits over seven innings. Delaney Rankin (11-7) took the loss to conclude a sensational season in the circle for the Bobcats. The ace ends the campaign with 100 strikeouts and a 1.82 earned-run average in 18 starts (119.0 innings pitched).

With the loss, the garnet and white concludes its season with a 16–19 record. Wesleyan (28–11) advances to face No. 7 seed Bowdoin on Sunday (noon) for a spot in the NESCAC Championship Game (2:30 p.m.) against either No. 4 Colby or No. 1 Tufts.