NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College softball team dropped a pair of games to No. 15 Amherst College Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action. The Mammoths earned a 9-0 victory in the first game and completed the sweet with a 12-0 decision in the nightcap. Both games ended in five innings.

The Pioneers drop to 5-16 overall, while Amherst improves to 19-2 on the season.

GAME 1: SMITH 0 AMHERST 9
Both teams were held scoreless until the top of the third inning when the Mammoths took a 1-0 lead. Sanders got on base, stole second and advanced to third on Kate Kopatic's grounder to the shortstop. First-year Audrey Hansen's RBI single scored Sanders and gave the Amherst the lead. 

The Mammoths exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 9-0. In the fifth, Salustri recorded two doubles and accounted for four runs. 

Offensively, sophomore Makena Wagner (Hilo, Hawaii/Kamehameha Schools Hawaii) went 2-for-2 at the plate for the Pioneers. Senior pitcher Rowan Turner (Kansas City, Kan./Shawnee Mission East) took the loss, allowing nine runs on nine hits with two strikeouts.

For the Mammoths, junior pitcher Lorena Ukanwa improved to 11-0 with 10 strikeouts and just three hits allowed. Sophomore Andrea Sanders and junior Sammy Salustri combined to hit 4-for-6 with four runs and five RBI. 

GAME 2: SMITH 0 AMHERST 12
Amherst's hot offense continued in the second game as the Mammoths scored in each inning. The visitors jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first two innings and added five more runs to close out the game. 

First-year Rachael Newhall and senior Caroline Eyman (Franconia, N.H./Profile Senior) recorded hits for Smith. Junior pitcher Jessica Flohr (Foster City, Calif./Crystal Springs Uplands School) took the loss for the Pioneers, giving up 12 runs on 17 hits. 

Seven different Amherst student-athletes recorded multiple hits, led by RonnieMarie Falasco who finished 2-for-4 with four RBI. Senior pitcher Gina Pagan improved to 8-2 on the season with her four inning seven strikeout effort.


UP NEXT
Smith travels to Emerson for a NEWMAC doubleheader Friday at 3:00 p.m.
About Smith Athletics: Smith College is an NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.