SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield College softball team swept a doubleheader sweep of Smith in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Saturday afternoon at Potter Field.  The Pride picked up its first win of the day, 8-0, in just five innings before turning in a 9-1 victory in five innings in the second contest.

With the wins, the Pride is now 24-10 overall with a 10-8 mark in league play, while the Pioneers are now 5-26 on the year with a 2-16 record against conference opponents.

GAME 1: SMITH 0 SPRINGFIELD 8 (5 INNINGS)

Senior pitcher Rowan Turner (Kansas City, Kan./Shawnee Mission East) surrendered seven runs on nine hits in 3.0 innings. Offensively, first-year Rachael Newhall wnt 2-for-3, while sophomore Makena Wagner (Hilo, Hawaii/Kamehameha Schools Hawaii) added a hit.

Springfield College jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Wheeler lined a double to right center field, driving in Gasdia and Vargas for the first two runs of the afternoon. The Pride added three more in the bottom of the second inning as Vargas launched a two-run homer to centerfield, before Conely roped a run-scoring double down the left field line to give the Pride a 5-0 cushion after two innings.

Springfield didn't let up as they put two more runs up in the bottom of the third after Vargas ripped a double to plate Kirsten Drobiak and Gasdia.  The final run of the game came on a sacrifice fly to deep right field by Drobiak, which scored Kayla Padroff and gave the Pride the 8-0 triumph. 

GAME 2: SMITH 1 SPRINGFIELD 9 (5 INNINGS)

Junior pitcher Jessica Flohr (Foster City, Calif./Crystal Springs Uplands School) took the loss allowing nine runs on 12 hits. Wagner and sophomore Elodie Townsend (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais) each went 2-for-3 at the dish. Townsend recorded the RBI for the Pioneers. 

Smith got on the board in the first inning as they took advantage of a lead off double and a pair of walks before a single through the left side gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage.  The Pride quickly answered back with four runs in the bottom half of the frame, a burst that was started by a sacrifice fly from Yaixsa Vargas which scored Kirsten Drobiak. Later in the inning, Allen would help herself out with a RBI single followed by a two-run triple from Meghan Sastram  to put Springfield up 4-1 after one. The Pride pushed three more runs across the board in the second, highlighted by run scoring hits from Vargas and Conley which put the Pride up 7-1 after two full innings. 

Conley and Vargas again drove in runs in the fourth inning, with Conley crushing a run-scoring double for the game's final run.

UP NEXT
Smith travels to Westfield State on Monday, April 23 for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3:30 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.