NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The sixth-seeded Smith College softball team (16-11) will make its first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Championship tournament appearance since 2008 when the Pioneers head to Wheaton to face third-seeded WPI (25-9) on Friday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.
Regular Season: The Engineers swept the Pioneers 3-2 and 15-2 (5 inn.) in Worcester on April 11.
The Series: WPI leads 35-18, including 11 of the last 12. The Pioneers most recent victory was a 5-3 decision on March 28, 2009. The Engineers won the first two NEWMAC/NEW 8 tournament meetings (1989 – 15-1, 1991 – 1-0) while the Pioneers claimed a 2-0 victory in 2006.
Fast Facts: The Engineers reset their program record for wins in a season with Monday's triumph over Springfield…Juliana Fekete is second in the NEWMAC with 31 RBI and tied for fourth with four home runs…Clare Doolin is third with 14 wins in the circle and is fourth in ERA (2.30)…WPI went 0-2 in its last NEWMAC tournament appearance in 2012…the 2006 victory over the Engineers was the 352nd and final win for 25-year head coach, and current Smith College Associate Athletic Director,
Bonnie May…the Pioneers are 3-0 in their last three NEWMAC tournament openers (2008, 2006 and 2005)…Smith won the NEW 8 tournament title in 1998…the Pioneers recently knocked off Wheaton and Amherst who was ranked fourth and seventh in the NCAA regional rankings at the time…
Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) ended the regular season with a league-best 1.11 ERA and 15 wins and ranks third with 109 Ks…
Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay) is tied for fourth with nine stolen bases and is one behind
Caroline Kushner (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) in third….Giordano and Kushner were recently named to the NEWMAC Softball All-Academic Team.
Next Up: The winner draws second-seeded Wheaton, who is currently sixth in the NCAA regional rankings, at 4:30 p.m. while the loser will play in the 12:00 p.m. elimination game tomorrow at Wellesley against the loser of game three. Potential opponents include fifth-seeded Babson, fourth-seeded Springfield or top-seeded Wellesley.
Admission Prices for Saturday's games at Wellesley:
Adults- $4
Senior Citizens- $2
Students w/ ID- $1
Children under 12- Free
