Smith College Softball Game Notes
Game 19, 20	Smith (6-12, 3-5 NEWMAC) at No. 19 (11-3, 3-3)
Date / Time	Monday, April 10, 2017 | 3:00 p.m./5:00 p.m.
Location	Cambridge, Mass.
Series History	Smith leads 36-25. Last Meeting: Smith 2 MIT 10: April 2, 2016
Watch Live	Video
Follow Live	Live Stats
Team Information	Smith / MIT
Twitter	@smithpioneers
Instagram	@smithcollegesoftball | @smithpioneers

THE SERIES
The game marks the 62nd meeting between the two programs, dating back to the first contest during the 1984 season - a 2-1 MIT victory. The Pioneers lead the series 31-10. Smith's last win came during the 2014 season.

LAST MEETING
MIT took a pair of games from Smith College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on April 2, 2016. The Engineers claimed game one 5-0, and completed the sweep with a 10-2 victory in the nightcap. Junior Ally Snyder (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) was 2-for-2 from the dish while junior Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) finished with two RBI.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
It does not get any easier for the Smith College softball team as the Pioneers travel to Cambridge for a conference doubleheader with their second ranked opponent in as many days against No. 19 MIT. Smith is coming off two losses to No. 20 Springfield yesterday by scores of 5-1 and 10-8. In game two, senior Ally Snyder (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) crushed a grand slam in the third inning to extend her career home record to 17 and the Pioneers led 8-6 in the fourth inning, but the Pride rallied in the fifth and sixth frame to complete the sweep. First year Stephanie Konas (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) picked up her first career hit in game two. Leading the offense this season is Snyder who is batting .429 with 21 hits, 22 RBI and five homers. Brittney Blokker (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) leads the Pioneers with 24 hits, batting .407 with eight doubles. Junior Rowan Turner (Kansas City, Kan./Shawnee Mission East) and senior Natalie Burchat (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) split the pitching duties for Smith. Both are 3-6 on the season with Burchat owning a 4.53 ERA while Turner's earned run average is 5.85. The Pioneers were selected to finish 8th in the NEWMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

SCOUTING THE ENGINEERS
No. 19 MIT is coming off its best season in program history as the Engineers made it all the way to the NCAA Division III Softball National Championship where they finished fifth in the country. MIT closed the 2016 campaign with a program-record 34 wins as they went 34-14 overall and 15-3 in NEWMAC play. The Engineers return NFCA All-Region Second Team and NEWMAC All-Conference First Team selection Jasmin Joseph, who finished last 2016 by breaking the program single-season records for most hits (70), runs (42) and at-bats (168). Head coach Jen Williams became the program's all-time winningest coach earlier this season. In a battle of two nationally-ranked teams, the No. 19 MIT softball team earned a hard fought split with No. 20 Springfield College this past Saturday. The Pride took the first game by a 9-1 score, before the Engineers claimed the 1-0 win in the nightcap. Sophomore pitcher Ravenne Nasser is 5-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 47.1 innings pitched this year. Offensively, Joseph is hitting .488 with 21 hits and five doubles. MIT was picked to finish 2nd in the NEWMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers will take Tuesday off before a non-conference doubleheader at Amherst College Wednesday beginning at 3:30 p.m.