Box Score WALTHAM, Mass. – Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Tori Brown (New Market, Md./Linganore) used a 2-RBI double to cap a four-run fourth as the third-seeded Smith College softball team claimed its second Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Softball Championship with a 6-2 victory over New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe, and top-seeded, WPI on Sunday at Brandeis' Marcus Field.
For the tournament, Brown was 6-for-13 (.462), including the key 2-RBI double and added an insurance run in Sunday's final.
The Pioneers (23-13), who also went 4-0 to earn the 2004 title, became the third team in the 2013-14 academic year to reach an ECAC Division III New England final. Both Volleyball and Basketball finished as the runner up.
Smith looked to dent the scoreboard in the first as
Ruth Zimmerman (Edison, N.J./John P. Stevens) was hit by a pitch and
Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) singled through the left side. Brown and
Edie Richardson (Franklin, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) both connected on well hit balls to the outfield while
Caroline Kushner (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire)'s hard liner was handled by Lauren DiFelice at third.
After
Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) struck out the leadoff batter in the home half of the frame, Katie Bumila went yard to give the Engineers the early 1-0 lead. WPI grabbed the 2-0 lead an inning later as Ali LaRue sent an RBI-single up the middle.
The Pioneers began to swing the momentum in their favor as Blokker gunned down Bumila at the plate to end the second.
Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay) opened the third with a beautiful bunt in an effort to spark the offense. After a strikeout and Giordano being called out for leaving early, Blokker, Brown and Richardson drew back-to-back-to-back walks but Clare Doolin ended the rally with a swinging strikeout.
Smith finally broke through in the fourth.
Allison Snyder (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) doubled in
Kristina Gaffny (Reading, Mass./Austin Prep), who was running for Martucci. Zimmerman then drove in Snyder with a single to left. Following a pitching change, Brown provided the heroics as the Pioneers staked the 4-2 lead.
The Pioneers added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Brown scampered home on a wild pitch and Martucci helped her own cause with an RBI knock through the left side. WPI went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame as Smith claimed the title.
Martucci (22-7) yielded two runs on six hits and struck out seven in her 23rd complete game of the season. Doolin (16-8) and Caroline Medino each shared time in the circle for the Engineers.
Brown (double, 2 RBI) and Snyder (double, RBI) each batted 2-for-3 while Martucci (RBI) was 2-for-4. The top four spots in the lineup also crossed home plate once. Blokker and Richardson each walked twice.
Bumila, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, reached the 100-hit milestone with her first-inning home run. The Engineers wrapped up the season with a 30-14 ledger.
The Pioneer roster also includes
Kaela DeAngelis (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford),
Sarah Tully (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury),
Natalie Burchat (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) and
Sam Chinn (Tuscon, Ariz./St. Gregory).
