NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College softball team had no answer for the powerful bats of WPI as the Engineers earned a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) sweep Saturday afternoon. 

Smith falls to 5-20 on the year and 2-10 in league action. The Crimson and Gray, which is receiving a vote in the latest NFCA Top 25, is now 23-7 overall and 13-1 in conference play. 

GAME 1: SMITH 1 WPI 11
The Engineers put two on the board in the first inning with back-to-back doubles from Marissa Gonzalez and Caraline Wood. With the bases loaded, Wood extended the lead to 6-0 with her grand slam to left field. A five-run fourth inning from WPI gave the visitors a commanding 11-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Makena Wagner (Hilo, Hawaii/Kamehameha Schools Hawaii) broke up WPI's no hit bid as she singled to left field to lead off the fourth. Wagner advanced to home on an error by the center fielder to make it an 11-1 game. 

Senior pitcher Rowan Turner (Kansas City, Kan./Shawnee Mission East) took the loss, allowing eight runs in 3.1 innings. Junior pitcher Jessica Flohr (Foster City, Calif./Crystal Springs Uplands School) came in to throw 1.2 innings of relief. Wagner earned Smith's only hit of the game. 

For the Engineers, Kelsey Saucier allowed one hit with six strikeouts and improves to 9-1 on the year. Junior Caraline Wood collected three hits and drove in seven runs to lead WPI's offense, while the visitors top three hitters combined to go 6-for-9 with eight runs scored.

GAME 2: SMITH 1 WPI 11
The Crimson and Gray exploded for nine runs in the first inning as Flohr was replaced by Turner after Gonzalez's two-run double. Tuner got Wood to fly out to end the inning. 
Sophomore Elodie Townsend (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais) led off the second with a single to center field. Pioggia reached on a fielders choice and would come around to score on Turner's groundout to the shortstop. The Engineers added two more runs over the next three innings for the 11-1 final.

Turner two runs on three hits in 4.1 innings. Junior Alyssa Pioggia (East Longmeadow, Mass./East Longmeadow) went 1-for 2 with a run scored, while senior Lindsey Lord (Goffstown, N.H./Goffstown) finished with two hits for the Pioneers.

For WPI, Mackenzie Phillips allowed one run on four hits. Nina Murphy-Cook had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. Gonzalez, Wood, and Cassie Graca each finished with two RBI. 


UP NEXT
The Pioneers look to get back in the win column when they host Babson on Monday, April 16 at 3:00 and 5:00 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.