Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. – The Smith College softball team split a pair of non-conference contests to open the 2015 regular season Saturday. The Pioneers defeated the Trailblazers of MCLA, 10-2 in the opener before dropping game two to Clarkson University in extra innings, 4-3.

The Pioneers led 4-0 after the first inning in game one highlighted by a RBI-double by junior first baseman Tori Brown (New Market, Md./Linganore). Smith tacked on two more in the top of the first thanks, in part, to a RBI-single by first-year second baseman Rowan Turner (Prairie Village, Kan./Shawnee Mission East). The hit was the first of Turner's collegiate career.

Junior pitcher Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Township) worked the strike zone from the start, setting MCLA down in order the first time through the lineup and didn't surrender a hit until the bottom of the fifth. Smith added to their lead with a two spot in the top of the fourth on a Turner RBI-groundout.

After the Pioneers made it 10-0 in the top of the fifth, the Trailblazers chipped away, scoring a pair of runs and putting a runner on first and second with two outs to make it 10-2. Martucci, however, recorded her ninth strikeout of the contest to end the game and seal the win for Smith.

Martucci picked up the complete game win, throwing five innings and allowing just one earned run on three hits. She struck out nine and walked one.

Smith's patience at the plate was a big reason for the offensive outburst, as they averaged 4.68 pitches per at-bat in game one. Three Pioneers collected at least two hits in the win. Sophomore right fielder Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base, while Brown went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two doubles and a RBI. Junior shortstop Caroline Kushner (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) also went 2-for-3 with a double.

In game two against the Clarkson University Golden Knights, the Pioneers scored first and again had a starting pitcher flirt with a no-no.

Smith manufactured a run in the top of the fourth, as senior third baseman Edie Richardson (Franklin, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) led off the inning with a ground rule double to left. After first-year Caroline Eyman (Bethlehem, N.H./Profile) entered the game as a pinch-runner, she promptly advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Turner. She later came around to score on a sac fly by Kushner.

The Pioneers added to their lead in the fifth, as junior left fielder Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y./John Jay) beat out a two-out bunt single to score junior center fielder Kristina Gaffny (Reading, Mass./Austin Prep) from third.

Sophomore pitcher Natalie Burchat (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) continued to deal on the hill for Smith, carrying a no-hitter into the top of the sixth. The Shrewsbury, Mass. native ran into trouble in the sixth, however, as a lead off bunt single by Summer Lancette broke up the no-no and put a runner on base for just the fourth time of the day. Lancette later stole second and came around to score on Raeanna Dunn's double to right center. Dunn later came around to score on an overthrow by the Pioneers that tied the game, 2-2.

In the top of the seventh, Smith caught two-out lightning courtesy of sophomore catcher Ruth Zimmerman (Edison, N.J./John P. Stevens), who doubled to left field. On the next pitch, Blokker singled to left center, but Zimmerman was thrown out at home after the ball ricocheted off the back stop and directly to Clarkson's catcher, Ali Schwenzfeier, who immediately flipped the ball to pitcher Katie Pelton to get out of the inning unscathed.

Turner, who came on in relief of Burchat, retired the side in order in the bottom half of the seventh, and the two teams headed to extra innings.

After Giordano led off the eighth with a sac bunt that moved Blokker to third, Brown tagged a 1-2 pitch to center, deep enough to score Blokker from third and give the Pioneers a 3-2 lead.

The Golden Knights responded, as a questionable "safe" call at first base with two-outs in the eighth scored the equalizer.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the 10^th, when an infield single scored the runner from third and gave Clarkson the win.

Martucci was stuck with the hard luck loss in game two, throwing two and a third innings in relief, allowing two runs, neither of which were earned and two hits while striking out two. Burchat threw five innings, allowing just one earned run on two hits and striking out four.

Giordano went 2-for-3 in game two with a RBI. Richardson went 2-for-4 with a double while Gaffny went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Smith (1-1) returns to action tomorrow, taking on the Trinity College Bantams at 1 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. contest against Concordia University.