Box Score NORTON, Mass. – The sixth-seeded Smith College softball team was edged by third-seeded WPI, 2-1, in eight innings on the first day of the 2014 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Championship double-elimination tournament on Friday at Wheaton's Clark Field.
The Pioneers (16-12) are slated resume action at noon tomorrow against fourth-seeded Springfield, ranked fifth in the most recent NCAA regional rankings, in the second of four games to be played at top-seeded Wellesley. The Engineers (26-10) moved on to play Wheaton in the second game of the day and fell 3-1 to the Lyons.
An inning after
Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) was left stranded in the first after connecting on a double to left center, Smith took an early 1-0 lead as
Sarah Tully (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) launched a two-out home run to right field for the first round-tripper of her collegiate career.
The Pioneers looked to build a cushion in the fifth but Tully, who was pinch run for by
Kaela DeAngelis (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford), was stranded on second after reaching on a single through the right side and moving to second courtesy of the outfield miscue.
The defense helped keep the game close after Kristin Gallagher knotted the game at 1-1 in the sixth. The Pioneers escaped the frame without further damage as the right side of the infield handled a pair of grounders. Smith forced the extra frame after Amanda Pierce doubled to left to open the inning.
Caroline Kushner (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) handled a pop-up as
Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) did the same and quickly got the ball to Kushner for the inning-ending double play.
Gallagher grounded out to third to allow Nicole McDonough to score the game-ending run for the Engineers in the bottom of the eighth.
Tully went 2-for-3 at the plate while Blokker accounted for the only other Pioneer hit.
Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) (15-6) shouldered the loss as she allowed two runs – one earned – on five hits and struck out six in the complete-game effort.
Admission Prices for Saturday's games at Wellesley:
Adults- $4
Senior Citizens- $2
Students w/ ID- $1
Children under 12- Free
