Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass. –
Tori Brown (New Market, Md./Linganore)'s 2-RBI double in the second proved to be the offensive difference while
Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) spun a two-hitter as the Smith College softball team took down its second regionally-ranked opponent in four days with a 4-1 triumph over Amherst on Monday afternoon. It is also the first Pioneer win over the Jeffs since April 16, 2008.
Smith, who split with regionally-ranked No. 4 Wheaton on Friday, improves to 16-11 while Amherst, No. 7 in the NCAA regional rankings, slipped to 17-8.
Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard), who reached on a hit that caromed off the pitcher, crossed home plate for the initial Pioneer run following a trio of miscues in the first inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Brown delivered two key runs as the Pioneers took the 3-1 lead in the second. Smith then tacked on a tally in the fifth as
Edie Richardson (Franklin, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) led off with a blast to right field.
Amherst avoided the shutout, and Martucci's no-hit bid, as Kelsey Ayers and Brianna Cook used back-to-back singles get runners on the corners in the sixth. Buechler followed with an RBI ground out to plate Ayers for the lone Amherst run of the afternoon. Martucci and the Pioneers retired the final four Jeffs in order to claim the triumph.
The Jeffs had a pair of base runners in the second and again two frames later; however, Martucci snagged a liner to end the first threat and handled a ground out to end the fourth inning.
Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay) batted 2-for-3 and
Ruth Zimmerman (Edison, N.J./John P. Stevens) went 2-for-4 as both crossed home plate once while Brown registered a pair of RBI. Martucci (15-5) struck out four in the complete-game victory.
Lauren Tuiskula and Jackie Buechler each struck out three batters as Tuiskula moved to 2-2 on the year and Buechler tossed a pair of scoreless innings for the Jeffs.
The official pairings will be out following the remaining three conference games being played today; however, it appears Smith will open NEWMAC Softball Championship play on Friday at 2:30 p.m. against WPI at Wheaton. Amherst treks to Wesleyan tomorrow for a single New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) game beginning at 5:00 p.m.
