Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - Natalie Burchat (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) and Rowan Turner (Prairie Village, Kan./Shawnee Mission East) set new career-highs in strikeouts and Emma Kraus (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) blasted a grand slam in the fifth inning of the second game to power the Smith College softball team to a sweep Clark Friday afternoon.

The Pioneers (6-8, 3-1) won game one, 6-2, and finished off the sweep with a 4-2 come from behind victory in game two. Smith also outhit the Cougars, 14-9 during the twinbill.

Sophomore Rowan Turner (Prairie Village, Kan./Shawnee Mission East) (2-3) had an outstanding outing on the mound, striking out a career-high nine batters and scattered four hits with no walks in game one. Not to be outdone, Burchat (4-2) pitched a gem of her own in game two, setting a new career-mark with 13 strikeouts with only five hits and one walk. 

Kraus' lone hit of the day was a grand slam to deep center field in the fifth inning of game two to give the Pioneers a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish. Six different Pioneer players delivered RBI in game one, while Burchat went 2-for-2 at the plate in the second game. 

GAME ONE - Smith 6 Clark 2

The Pioneers took advantage of three Clark errors to produce a five-run 1st inning, sending all nine batters up to the plate. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and would score on Tori Brown (New Market, Md./Linganore)'s single to center field to give Smith a 6-0 lead.

Clark plated two in their half of the sixth as Kayleigh McHugh homered to left field, scoring Serina Cook.

GAME TWO - Smith 4 Clark 2

Clark scored two runs in the fourth inning to take their first and only lead of the day. Alyssa Wright singled and advanced to second on Jocie Orangio's hit. Both runners would advance on a passed ball and scored on Rachel Kraytenberg's double to center. 

In the fifth, Burchat led off with a walk and Sarah Tully (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) came up big with a pinch hit single to center field. A Clark error loaded the bases and Kraus capitalized with her first-career grand slam.

"Our pitching staff has been focused on limiting two strike hits while also slamming the door shut on the opposing team once we get two defensive outs in an inning," said head coach Kelly O'Connell. "Rowan and Nat have embraced this challenge and their individual performances on the mound today speaks to the work they have put in to get themselves and this program to the next level."

"Emma struggled a bit today offensively, which is a bit atypical for her. Great players stay the course, never lose confidence and jump at the first chance they get to be that person. Emma is a tough competitor -- I had no doubts when she stepped up to the dish with the bases jacked she would deliver when we needed it most."

The Pioneers return to conference action tomorrow when they host the Engineers of MIT at 11:00 a.m.