Worcester, Mass. --- Nicole McDonough batted 5-for-7 on the day, including a pair of home runs, nine RBI and five runs scored, as WPI defeated Smith 12-1 and 13-1 to close out each squad's NEWMAC softball schedule on Saturday afternoon. With the wins, WPI is back above .500 at 17-16 on the season and finishes to 5-11 in the league. Smith dips to 1-29 overall and 0-16 in the NEWMAC.
In the opener, WPI scored half its runs in the first inning. The first two came on an Erin Beaulieu 2-RBI ground-rule double to center field. Katherine Fitton followed with a hit to center to bring in another run before two more runs crossed the plate on a single by Allie Roche. A single to shortstop by McDonough drove in the final run of the inning.
The Engineers added to its advantage in the next frame as Lauren DiFelice knocked in a run on a double down the left field line. In the third inning, Beaulieu pushed the Crimson and Gray lead to 8-0 as she reached on a fielder's choice and allowed a run to come home.
WPI increased the lead to 12-0 in the fourth. Kim Martilla doubled to left center and scored following a pair of wild pitches, while McDonough launched a three-run homer to left field for the Engineers.
Smith grabbed a run in the top of the fifth as Sarah Goodman (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) reached on a fielder's choice and stole second before scoring on a single to center field by Chelsie Biluck (Delran, N.J./Delran).
Erin Flaherty scattered two hits over five innings and allowed one run in the win. The junior is now 8-7 on the season.
Kayla Kiers (West Warwick, R.I./West Warwick) tossed the first three innings for the Pioneers surrendering eight runs on seven hits in the loss. Abagael Shrader (Tiffin, Iowa/Clear Creek Amana) gave up four runs on four hits in the final inning of the game.
WPI lit up the scoreboard first in the nightcap. Roche led off the third with a walk to set the stage for a McDonough two-run blast to right center.
Smith answered in the top of the fourth when Kirstie Beaton (Osterville, Mass./Barnstable) and Biluck singled. The duo each advanced a base on a wild pitch and Kathryn Durkin's sacrifice fly allowed Beaton to cross home plate.
McDonough smacked a 2-RBI double to left field to begin the 11-run WPI outburst in the bottom of the fourth. Beaulieu walked with the bases loaded for another tally. Fitton and Johnson each singled to bring in a pair of runners. A sacrifice fly by Roche, and a pair of errors brought in the final four runs.
Christa Coscia (4-5) struck out four and gave up one run on three hits in the five inning effort.
Tessa Clark (Calais, Maine/Calais) suffered the loss, giving up 10 earned runs on eight hits in the first 3 1/3 innings. Shrader allowed two runs in the balance of the contest.
On the day, Fitton recorded three hits, while Roche, Juliana Fekete, Beaulieu and DiFelice notched a pair each. Beaulieu registered four RBI as Roche and Fitton followed with three apiece. Johnson led the way with four of the 17 WPI walks while Fekete and Beaulieu each amassed three free passes.
Biluck and Beaton accounted for four of Smith's five hits on the day, with each tallying a base knock in both ends of the twinbill.
Both teams hit the road for non-conference doubleheaders. WPI heads to Nichols on Monday for a 3pm start, while Smith ventures to Amherst on Wednesday beginning at 4pm.
(Release courtesy WPI Sports Information)
