CLERMONT, FL. – The Smith College softball team split a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon, securing a thrilling extra-inning victory over Ripon College before falling to Kalamazoo College in a high-scoring affair.
Game One: Smith 3, Ripon 2 (8 Innings)
Smith College showcased its resilience and clutch performance in a dramatic 3-2 extra-inning victory over Ripon. The Pioneers battled through a tight game, relying on strong pitching, stellar defense, and timely hitting to earn the win.
After two scoreless frames, Smith broke through in the third inning when Lily Hackett (Concord, NH/Concord) drove in a run to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. Ripon responded in the sixth, tying the game at 1-1. With the pressure on in the seventh, Bailey Gray came through with a clutch RBI single to put Smith ahead once more, but Ripon managed to push the game to extras with a run of its own in the bottom half.
In the eighth, Smith capitalized on a scoring opportunity, manufacturing the game-winning run with aggressive baserunning and a key at-bat. Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port), who was a force at the plate with three hits, sparked the offense, setting the table for Taz Tamai (Cincinati, OH/The Seven Hills School), who executed in a key moment to give Smith the lead.
Emilie Doty (Arlington, VA/Washington-Liberty) delivered a standout performance in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just two runs on seven hits and striking out six. The Pioneers' defense stepped up when it mattered most, shutting the door in the bottom of the eighth to seal the hard-fought victory.
Game Two: Kalamazoo 15, Smith 9
Smith looked to carry its momentum into game two but ran into an offensive surge from Kalamazoo, falling 15-9 despite a strong offensive effort.
Kalamazoo struck early and often, scoring in six of the seven innings while compiling 12 hits. Smith responded with a solid offensive showing of its own, led by Lucy Allen (West Boylston, MA/West Boylston), Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point), and Kat Wajerski (Bellevue, WA/Newport). Gray continued her strong day at the plate with three hits and an RBI, while Hackett added another run batted in.
Smith's pitching staff worked to contain Kalamazoo's relentless attack but ultimately couldn't slow down the opposition's high-powered offense.
With the split, Smith moves to 3-5 on the season and will look to build on its momentum as the Pioneers continue their Florida trip tomorrow morning against Trinity (CT) and SUNY-Geneseo.
