NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The sixth-seeded Smith College softball team (18-12) returns to action with its first appearance on the final day of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Championship since 2006 when the team heads to top-seeded Wellesley (26-9) to take on second-seeded Wheaton (30-9) at 10:00 a.m. The winner squares off with Wellesley for the NEWMAC Softball Championship crown and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship tournament.
The Series vs. Wheaton: The Lyons own a 56-11 margin while the Pioneers won the last meeting to earn a key split during the regular season and end a 10-game drought which dates back to 2009.
The Series vs. Wellesley: The Blue holds a 14-7 advantage while Smith won the nightcap of the regular season twinbill to snap Wellesley's 13-game winning-streak that began in 2008.
Fast Facts: Coast Guard won the title as the sixth-seed by defeating Springfield in the opener and went on to best Babson twice on May 5, 2012…
Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay) is batting .400 (4-for-10) with a triple, a stolen base, two RBI and two runs scored in the NEWMAC tournament…since the tournament began, Wheaton's Ashley Brillon is hitting a blistering .714 while Wellesley's Mariah Philips and Ashtyn Coleman are batting .600 and .571, respectively…Smith won the tournament title in 1998…Wellesley is ranked first in the NCAA Regional Rankings while Wheaton checks in fifth…other ranked NEWMAC teams include WPI (sixth) and Springfield (eighth)…Smith handed Wellesley its first conference loss of 2014 and snapped its nine-game winning streak back on April 5…the Pioneers split with Wheaton when the Lyons were ranked No. 25 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll.
Next Up: The NEWMAC Champion will learn its destination for next weekend's NCAA Division III Softball Championship Regional via a 10:00 a.m. selection show on NCAA.com. Smith is the only team of the three to have declared for the ECAC Division III New England Softball Championship and would await a potential berth should it not take home the title. The field is slated to be announced sometime on Monday.
