Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) pitched a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts in the opener, followed by five innings of three hit relief in the second game as the Smith College softball team snapped a 12 game losing streak with a doubleheader sweep of Westfield State University by scores of 1-0 and 4-3 in nine innings.  Smith is now 6-14 overall, the most wins for the program since the 2009 season.  Westfield State is now 4-15.

Game One

Martucci was outstanding, retiring the first 10 batters she faced, and facing one batter above the minimum. 

Smith got the only run they would need in the second inning.  Brittany Purington (Weare, N.H./John Stark) and Kristina Gaffny (Reading, Mass./Austin Prep) hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third, and as Gaffny stole second base, Purington scampered home for the only run of the game.

Martucci continued her dominant display, not allowing the Owls a runner past first base until the top of the seventh inning when Hill stole second base with two out.   Martucci slammed the door shut, striking out Emelie Manna to end the contest.

Westfield State was limited to three hits overall, compared to six for Smith. Kristina Gaffny (Reading, Mass./Austin Prep) and Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay) each had two for the Pioneers.

Kelly Fluet went the distance for the Owls, with two strikeouts in six innings of work.  


Game Two

Smith battled back three times from one run deficits to complete the sweep.  Edie Richardson (Franklin, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Martucci helped her own cause with a pair of doubles in addition to five innings of one run relief.

The Owls opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Kat Robinson singled and took second on a wild pitch.  Kelsey Carpenter's single to center brought her home.

Smith tied it up in the bottom half with a two out rally;  Richardson stroked a single to left field, and Martucci doubled her in with a hit to left-center.

Westfield State took the lead back in the top of the third when Robinson opened the third inning with a solo home run to center field, but Smith would again rally in the bottom of the fourth.  Martucci hit a leadoff double, and Tessa Clark (Calais, Maine/Calais)'s sacrifice bunt moved her to third.  After Purington grounded out, Gaffny smacked a single to center that brought in Martucci, making it a 2-2 contest.

Smith could have won the game in regulation when Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay) reached on a bunt single with two out, but was caught stealing second to send the game to extra innings.

Playing with the international tiebreaker, the Owls again scored first, this time in the eighth inning.  Courtney Begin started the frame on second, and was bunted over by Robinson.  After Bre Bisceglia popped up to shortstop, Carpenter put Westfield State up 3-2 with an infield single.

One out away from the game ending, Smith responded to tie the contest.  Giordano started the eighth on second, and moved to third on Caroline Kushner (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire)'s groundout to shortstop, and Richardson brought her in with her third hit of the game.  

Martucci kept Westfield State off the board in the ninth, leaving Emily Mailloux stranded on third.  Having started on second, she moved to third on Jaime Ricciardi's single, but pinch hitter Kate Woishnis struckout and Begin grounded out to second base to end the threat.

The Pioneers won it in the bottom half;  Clark started the inning on second, and Purington's sacrifice bunt was bobbled, letting Clark score standing up to end the game.

Tori Brown (New Market, Md./Linganore) started the game and went the first four innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs.  Martucci struck out two in five innings of work, with one unearned run allowed.  Mailloux tossed a complete game for Westfield State, striking out four.

Smith will return to conference play with a visit from Springfield College on Friday, April 12 at 3:30 pm.  Westfield State will be at Keene State in a non-conference doubleheader on April 11 at 3 p.m.