Box Score WELLESLEY, Mass. -
Edie Richardson (Franklin, Mass./Fontbonne Academy)'s sacrifice fly plated
Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) in the top of the eighth and
Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) tossed a three-hit shutout as the sixth-seeded Smith College softball team knocked off fourth-seeded Springfield, the defending New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament champions, 1-0, in eight innings on Saturday at top-seeded Wellesley.
The Pioneers (17-12), who defeated a regionally-ranked opponent for the third time since April 18, wll face third-seeded WPI for the fourth time this season at either 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. on Sunday. Keep an eye on SmithPioneers.com for up-to-date information.
Smith plated a run in the top of the eighth, using a well-executed sacrifice bunt from Brown to move
Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) (the tie-break runner) to third with one out. Richardson then drove in Blokker with a sacrifice fly to left to give Smith a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Martucci took away the sacrifice bunt option for the first two batters of the inning by ringing up two quick strikes on each hitter. After the first batter popped out, the tie-break runner, Elizabeth Joseph, was moved to third on an ground out from Ally Rivelli. Martucci then forced a ground ball that Blokker smothered at second throwing out the runner at first, to give Smith its first NEWMAC Tournament win since 2008.
Martucci struck out three over eight scoreless innings to move to 16-6 on the season. Smith's offense was paced by a two-hit performance from
Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay), while
Edie Richardson (Franklin, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) drove in the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning.
The Pioneers threatened first, loading the bases in the top of the second. A lead-off single from Richardson and a pair of walks loaded the bases, but Springfield's Jennifer Joseph escaped the jam as shortstop Melissa Nelson snared a sharply hit line drive to end the inning.
Springfield also had an early chance to score, putting a runner at third in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brielle Engelbrecht reached on a Smith miscue to open the inning and was advanced to third after a ground out and another Pioneer error. The Springfield rally was thwarted, however, as Smith threw out a baserunner to end the threat.
Both teams had baserunners in the seventh inning, looking to avoid extra innings. In the top of the seventh, Smith had singles from
Sarah Tully (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) and
Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay) to put runners on first and second with one out, but Springfield escaped the inning unscathed by forcing a pop out and a fly out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the seventh, Smith's Martucci worked around a lead-off double from Jenna Webb. A groundout put Webb on third with one out, but the Pioneer hurler got a fly out and a strike out to send the game to extra innings.
Springfield's Joseph was the hard-luck loser, throwing eight innings, not allowing an earned run. She scattered seven hits and struck out five, while walking two. The Pride offense was limited to Webb's double and singles from Elizabeth Joseph and Rivelli.
Springfield (19-12-1) closes out its 2014 campaign on Monday with a 4:00 p.m. game at Westfield State.
(Major Portions Courtesy Wellesley College, Photo Credit: Alex Berman, Wellesley '16)Â
