Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College softball team fell in a NEWMAC doubleheader to Clark University by scores of 14-1 and 10-1 on Friday afternoon.  The losses drop Smith to 4-24 overall, and 1-13 in the NEWMAC, while Clark evens up their record at 16-16, with a 6-10 NEWMAC ledger.

After both games, Smith's four seniors - catcher Sarah Goodman (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon), third baseman Kirstie Beaton (Osterville, Mass./Barnstable), and outfielders Kate Durkin (Victor, N.Y./Allendale Columbia) and Neelma Qureshi (Falls Church, Va./Jeb Stuart) were honored for their contributions to the Pioneers' softball program.

Game One:

In the opener, the Cougars banged out 15 hits, led by matching 3-for-5, 2-RBI performances from Maya Allen and Mel Melkonian.  Clark scored all the runs they would need in the first inning, when Allen led off with a single and Erin Murphy hit her third home run of the year to left first.

Clark scored twice more in the second on RBI hits by Tatiana Chunis and Shawna Amatucci, and Murphy drove in a pair in the fourth with a single to left that made it 6-0.  The Cougars stretched the lead to 8-0 on a 2-RBI single by Allen in the fifth inning.

Smith pulled one run back in the bottom of the fifth inning - Sarah Goodman (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) singled with two out, and Tessa Clark (Calais, Maine/Calais) followed by crushing a double to left center that brought her home.

Clark added six more runs in the top of the seventh.  Nicole Meuse struck out six while allowing just seven hits in a complete game performance for the Cougars, while Kayla Kiers (West Warwick, R.I./West Warwick) pitched the first four innings, striking out a pair, and Clark went the final three, allowing one earned run.  Goodman finished 2-for-3, the only Pioneer with multiple hits.

Game Two:

The Cougars hit four home runs in the nightcap to break open a game that was 1-0 heading into the sixth inning.

Murphy hit her second home run of the day in the first inning, but Kiers was masterful after that, allowing just one Clark hit until the fifth inning.  The Pioneers' best chance to tie the score came with runners on first and third in the bottom of the fourth, but Brittany Purington (Weare, N.H./John Stark) grounded out to end the threat.

Melkonian hit a solo shot to lead off the sixth inning, and after Chutis and Meghan Lennon reached, Amatucci hit a three run shot to left for a 5-0 lead. 

Catherine Tocci (Belmont, Mass./Belmont) walked with one out in the six and took third on Beaton's infield single.  Purington slapped a single through the right sideto bring home Tocci to get Smith in the board.

Clark added five more in the seventh including a 2-RBI single by Chunis and Amatucci's second home run of the game, a two-run shot to left field.

Hayley Buckheit struckout two in six innings of work for Clark, while Heather Figula pitched one inning of relief.  Kiers went the distance for Smith, striking out three.


Smith will finish up the regular season by visiting Wellesley College on April 21 for a noon doubleheader.  Clark will also finish up their season by hosting Brandeis, also on April 21 at noon.