Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. –
Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) and
Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) each batted 2-for-3 as Martucci also turned in her second complete game victory in as many days to lift the Smith College softball team past Clarkson, 3-2, on Monday morning at the Gene Cusic Classic. Smith, off to its best start since 2006, improved to 3-0 while Clarkson slipped to 0-5 on the young season.
Blokker was involved in two of the three runs scored by the Pioneers, including what proved to be the game-winning RBI in the top of the fifth. In addition to her offense, Martucci allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out eight in the complete game effort.
Ruth Zimmerman (Edison, N.J./John P. Stevens) went 2-for-4 at the leadoff spot and
Caroline Kushner (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) doubled in a run to setup Blokker's run-producing single.
Each side managed to get a single runner in scoring position in the first three innings as the teams traded zeroes in the run column. A pair of miscues helped the Pioneers plate the initial run in the fourth as Blokker reached and eventually scored as
Natalie Burchat (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) put the ball into play. Clarkson responded in the home half of the inning to even it up at 1-1.
Kushner pushed Zimmerman across the plate with a double in the fifth to make it 2-1 in favor of the Pioneers. Blokker then plated Kushner with a two-out RBI single for a 3-1 advantage. The Golden Knights answered with an unearned run with two outs in the bottom of the frame.
After the first two Golden Knights reached in the bottom of the seventh, Smith closed the door with a fielder's choice, a ground out and a popup to the catcher.
For the game, Clarkson left nine runners on the base paths, including three in the fourth, while the Pioneers stranded seven.
Smith enjoys an off day before taking on Knox and Brockport on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively.
