NORTHAMPTON - The Smith College softball team earned a two-game sweep over Salve Regina University in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers won game one, 10-2, in five innings before defeating the Seahawks, 7-3, in the nightcap to secure the NEWMAC sweep.
Smith pushed its record to 8-7-1 (2-2 NEWMAC), while Salve Regina dropped to 5-13, 2-4 NEWMAC.
As a team, Smith produced 10 hits and 17 runs over the two games this afternoon. First-year
Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point) earned the win on the mound in game one and went 5-for-6 at the plate with four RBI.
Game 1: Smith 10 Salve Regina 2 (5 Innings)
- Tied at 1-1, Smith's offense broke through in the second as Gray knocked in her first career hit to score Lucy Allen (West Boylston, MA/West Boylston) and put her team up. The Pioneers added three more runs in the inning to lead 4-1.
- In the fourth, Juno Shantz (Seattle, Wash./Garfield) hit her first homerun of the season and seventh of her career. The offensive power continued as Gray doubled to make it 8-1 followed by a defensive error which put Smith ahead 10-1.
- The visitors added one in the fifth but Gray was able to get of the inning with the 10-2 win. Gray pitched a complete game allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
- Shantz finished 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, while Gray was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI
Game 2: Smith 7 Salve Regina 3
- Shantz picked up right where she left off and roped an RBI single to score Taylor Ang (San Diego, CA/Canyon Crest Academy)
- A four run third running extended Smith's lead to 5-0. Corey doubled to center followed by an RBI single from Lucy Allen (West Boylston, MA/West Boylston). Gray's single up the middle scored two more runs for the Pioneers
- In the fourth, Emily Cronin belted a three-run homer to left field to come withing 5-3 but Smith got two insurance runs in the sixth thanks to Corey and Cece Alaniz
- Emilie Doty (Arlington, VA/Washington-Liberty) gave up three runs on four hits with five strikeouts to improve to 5-3 on the season
Up Next
Smith will travel down the road to Amherst College for a non-conference twinbill on Wednesday, April 10 beginning at 3:00pm.
About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a 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 and Instagram.
