Box Score WESTFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore
Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) twirled a two-hitter and struck out 10 – nine swinging - as the Smith College softball team scored four unearned runs in the third inning to defeat Westfield State, 6-1, in a non-conference softball game on Wednesday. With the win, Smith improved to 11-7 while Westfield moved to 9-7 on the year.
Martucci aided her own cause by smashing a double to lead off the seventh inning.
Allison Snyder (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) smacked an RBI double, advanced to third on
Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay)'s single, and scored on
Ruth Zimmerman (Edison, N.J./John P. Stevens)'s sacrifice fly.
Westfield freshman Julia Sullivan sustained the pitching setback despite a solid performance. After allowing a leadoff single in the first inning, she hurled six hitless innings until Smith scored two runs on three hits in the seventh. Sullivan walked three and struck out one.
However, two of her walks came in third inning when the Pioneers scored its four unearned runs without the benefit of a hit. Westfield also committed its two errors in the fatal fourth frame.
Sullivan walked the first two batters in the fourth inning. After a groundout to first moved up the runners, the bases became full on a fielding error. A force play at the plate resulted in the second out. Smith then scored three runs on a three-base infield throwing error. The Pioneers scored their fourth unearned run on a passed ball.
Westfield scored an unearned run in the fourth inning. Elizabeth Kelly doubled to the right-center gap, stole second and scored on a dropped fly ball to deep left field.
The Pioneers make the trek to WPI on Friday for a 3:30 p.m. NEWMAC twinbill while the Owls host Keene State on Thursday for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.
(Release Courtesy Westfield State)
