Northampton, Mass. — Smith College faced Westfield State University in a doubleheader at Smith Softball Field on Tuesday, resulting in two defeats: 14–5 in the first game and 6–2 in the second.

In the first game, Smith managed to score five runs in the first two innings, including a four-run surge in the second, but Westfield St. responded with a six-run first inning and maintained their lead throughout the game. Westfield St. opened with a strong first inning, scoring six runs. Sarah Hough doubled to right center, bringing in Rylie Camacho for the first run. Further hits and a series of walks allowed Westfield St. to continue their scoring, finishing the inning ahead 6–1. Smith's response came with Gabbie Chinnis (Charleston, SC/Charleston County School of Arts) tripling to right field, followed by Riley Veenstra's (Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd) single down the right field line, allowing Chinnis to score. The inning ended with Westfield St. leading 6–1.

In the second inning, the Bears rallied with a four-run effort. Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point) singled and advanced on a walk by Ava Lansbury (Arlington, VA/Washington-Liberty), setting up Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) to single, score Gray, and advance Lansbury, who scored on the throw. Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee) then singled down the left field line, driving in Knutson and Chinnis, bringing Smith closer with the score at 6–5, Westfield St. Notably, Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) has been on a hot streak, recording 2 or more hits in 4 consecutive games, and she continued her impressive performance in this match.

Westfield St. added another run in the fourth inning with Kassidy LaTour's single bringing in Sarah Hough, extending their lead to 7–5. The fifth inning saw Westfield St. widen the gap with five additional runs. A sequence of hits, including a double by Kassidy LaTour and singles by Rylie Camacho and Mia Alfonso, allowed them to capitalize on scoring opportunities. They concluded the inning with a 12–5 advantage. Westfield St. cemented their lead in the sixth inning as Allyssa Slack's single to center field brought in two more runs. The game concluded with Westfield St. defeating the Bears 14–5.

Lindsay Bennett (Sanford, ME/Berwick Academy) pitched 1 1/3 innings, facing 11 batters and allowing 5 hits. Bennett struck out one batter and walked one, while giving up 2 earned runs. Despite a challenging outing, she managed to throw 14 strikes out of 24 pitches. Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) recorded two hits and two RBIs, including a double, contributing significantly to the team's offensive performance. Chinnis added two hits and scored twice, showcasing her impact on the game's momentum. Peverly also made her mark with a hit and two RBIs, playing a crucial role in driving in runs. Veenstra contributed with a hit and an RBI, adding to the team's overall scoring effort.

In the second game, Smith fell to Westfield State with a final score of 6–2. The Bears managed four hits, including a double, but were outscored during a decisive five-run fourth inning by Westfield St. Smith battled Westfield St. in a game marked by a few pivotal innings. In the third inning, Smith's Elinor Washington (Sacramento, CA/Pleasant Grove) doubled to center field, setting the stage for Lily Hackett (Concord, NH/Concord), who reached first on an error by third base, allowing Washington to score an unearned run. The inning ended with the score tied at 1–1.

The fourth inning saw Westfield St. pull ahead with a five-run burst. Key plays included a two-RBI single by Caelyn Thayer and a sequence where Rylie Camacho scored on a wild pitch. Despite this offensive surge by Westfield St., the Bears responded in its half with a sacrifice fly by Washington, scoring Anna Gray (Santa Barbara, CA/Dos Pueblos), a pinch runner. The inning concluded with Westfield St. leading 6–2. No further scoring occurred in the final two innings, with both teams held scoreless. The game concluded with Westfield St. defeating the Bears, 6–2.

Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee) pitched a complete game, allowing six earned runs over 5 innings. She faced 24 batters, giving up six hits and issuing one walk. Peverly struck out two batters and maintained a WHIP of 1.40. Despite the loss, her 71 pitches included 48 strikes, highlighting her focus on the strike zone. Elinor Washington (Sacramento, CA/Pleasant Grove) recorded a double and an RBI while scoring one run. Riley Veenstra (Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd) collected a hit in her two at-bats, and Anna Gray (Santa Barbara, CA/Dos Pueblos) scored one run as a pinch runner.

The Bears will travel to Waltham to take on the Emerson Lions, for a doubleheader on Friday afternoon with first pitch slated for 3pm. 

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.