NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Smith College (7-6, 1-1) split their doubleheader against Babson College (7-9, 1-1) on Sunday, falling in the first game 6-4 before bouncing back for a narrow 3-2 victory in the second.
In the first game, Smith was unable to recover from a six-run second inning by Babson. Anna Ziccardi highlighted the inning with a two-run double to center field, while Emily Walsh's stolen base allowed Ziccardi to score. Maddy DeLong and Lexi Sealy contributed with RBI doubles, and Babson capitalized on two Smith errors to take a commanding 6-1 lead by the end of the second inning. The Bears managed to score one run after
Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point) doubled and
Gabbie Chinnis (Charleston, SC/Charleston County School of Arts) singled, but they ended the inning trailing 6-1.
Smith fought back in the fifth inning, with
Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) doubling and scoring on a single from
Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee).
Taz Tamai's (Cincinati, OH/The Seven Hills School) single to right field brought in two more runs, reducing Babson's lead to 6-4. However, despite strong defensive efforts in the final innings, the Bears could not overcome the deficit, ending the game with a final score of 6-4 in favor of Babson.
Lindsay Bennett (Sanford, ME/Berwick Academy) had a standout performance on the mound, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing only one hit while facing 25 batters. She struck out three batters, marking a season best, and issued five walks, maintaining a WHIP of 1.18. Offensively,
Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) shone with two doubles and a run scored, while
Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee) recorded two hits and an RBI.
Taz Tamai (Cincinati, OH/The Seven Hills School) led the team with three hits and two RBIs, and
Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point) added two hits, including a double.
In the second game, Smith turned the tide with a hard-fought 3-2 victory, clinching the win with a decisive run in the seventh inning.
Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee) delivered a commanding performance, striking out eight batters while allowing only two earned runs over seven innings.
The Bears got on the scoreboard first in the third inning when
Elinor Washington (Sacramento, CA/Pleasant Grove) singled and advanced on a hit by
Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port), who recorded her third consecutive game with two or more hits.
Sophie Hasegawa's (Palos Verdes Estates, CA/Palos Verdes) single allowed Washington to cross the plate, putting Smith ahead 1-0. Babson tied the game in the fifth inning with a run from Kay Laliberty, who scored on a fly out by Belle Dicampello. Smith responded quickly when Knutson singled and later scored on a Peverly single, making it 2-1.
The game remained tense until the seventh inning, when Babson tied it once again with Emily Walsh scoring after a single by Dicampello. However, Smith capitalized on three fielding errors by Babson, allowing
Lucy Allen (West Boylston, MA/West Boylston) to score the decisive run, securing a 3-2 victory for the Bears.
Peverly's complete game performance included allowing seven hits and two earned runs, striking out eight batters while walking three, contributing to a WHIP of 1.43. She threw a total of 129 pitches, with 80 strikes, and improved her season record to 4-3. In addition to her pitching prowess, Peverly also contributed offensively with two RBIs and a stolen base. Knutson continued to display her skill with two hits and a run scored, while Hasegawa added one hit and drove in a run.
With this split, Smith holds a record of 7-6 and remains `-1 in conference play, while Babson stands at 7-9 with a 1-1conference mark. Smith plays host to Westfield State on Tuesday with games at 3 and 5pm.
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 GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram.
