CLERMONT, FL. – The Smith College softball team put up a strong fight in a pair of matchups on Friday but was unable to come away with a win, falling to Trinity (Conn.) 9-6 and Geneseo 8-2.
Game One: Trinity (Conn.) 9, Smith 6
Smith kicked off the day against Trinity (Conn.) in a high-scoring affair that saw both teams trading offensive blows. The Bantams jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after two innings, but the Pioneers refused to back down.
In the bottom of the third, Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point) got Smith on the board with a well-placed RBI single, followed by Taz Tamai (Cincinati, OH/The Seven Hills School), who roped a double to drive in another run. Kat Wajerski (Bellevue, WA/Newport) chipped in with a timely hit in the fourth to cut the deficit to one, making it a 5-4 ballgame.
With momentum shifting, the Pioneers looked poised for a comeback, but Trinity had other plans. The Bantams took advantage of defensive miscues and timely hitting in the fifth, pushing across four runs to extend their lead. Smith attempted a late rally, plating two runs in the final innings, but ultimately couldn't close the gap.
On the mound, Emilie Doty (Arlington, VA/Washington-Liberty) and Lindsay Bennett (Sanford, ME/Berwick Academy) combined efforts, working to limit Trinity's offense while navigating around defensive struggles.
Game Two: Geneseo 8, Smith 2
The Pioneers turned their attention to Geneseo in the afternoon contest but struggled to contain the Knights' relentless offense in an 8-2 defeat.
Smith managed six hits in the game, with Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) leading the charge, collecting two hits and making solid contact throughout. Taz Tamai (Cincinati, OH/The Seven Hills School) once again came through in key moments, driving in both of Smith's runs with a clutch hit in the fourth inning to briefly cut into Geneseo's lead.
However, defensive miscues proved costly, as the Knights capitalized on multiple errors and turned them into scoring opportunities. Geneseo struck for four runs in the third and tacked on additional insurance runs in the later innings, preventing Smith from mounting a comeback.
Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point) took the ball for Smith, battling through 3.2 innings while allowing three earned runs before turning it over to the bullpen. Despite keeping the game within reach early, the Pioneers couldn't overcome the Knights' steady offensive attack.
Up Next
Smith will look to bounce back as they head back to Massachusetts. They play their first home doubleheader next Friday, March 28th against Keene State. All Smith home games will be streamed on FloSports.
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.
