SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Springfield College claimed a 3-0 win in Game 1 and a 4-1 decision in Game 2 to sweep Smith College (13-13, 5-5 NEWMAC) in a NEWMAC road doubleheader Friday afternoon. The Pride (18-9, 8-4 NEWMAC) were sharp in both ends, with Amelia DeRosa throwing a complete-game shutout in the opener and Springfield putting a decisive four-run fourth inning together in the nightcap.
Game 1: Springfield 3, Smith 0
Springfield needed just one inning to do all its damage. The Pride erupted for five hits — including three doubles — and plated all three of their runs off Smith starter Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee) in the third inning. The Bears were unable to recover the deficit, and DeRosa made sure of it, shutting Smith down on four hits across seven complete innings without issuing a single walk. She needed only 75 pitches to record six strikeouts and post the shutout.
Smith's four-hit effort was spread thin. Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port), Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point), and Taz Tamai (Cincinati, OH/The Seven Hills School) each contributed singles, while Peverly added a double, but the Bears never mounted a sustained threat. After exiting following the third inning, Peverly was replaced by Lindsay Bennett (Sanford, ME/Berwick Academy), who delivered a strong relief outing — allowing just one hit and no runs over the final three frames on 30 pitches.
Game 2: Springfield 4, Smith 1
The Bears generated more offense in the nightcap, collecting eight hits against Springfield starter Julia Rimshnick, but could not overcome a pivotal four-run outburst by the Pride in the fourth inning. Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point) started and went the distance for Smith, pitching a complete game but allowing all four Springfield runs — on four hits and two doubles — in that decisive frame. Gray finished with 6.0 innings pitched, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 100 pitches (62 strikes).
Smith's lone run came in the fourth inning as well, when Riley Veenstra (Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd) reached base and was replaced by pinch-runner Anna Gray (Santa Barbara, CA/Dos Pueblos). Sophie Hasegawa (Palos Verdes Estates, CA/Palos Verdes) then came through with an RBI hit to bring Gray home for the Bears' only score of the game. Rimshnick worked around the eight Smith hits to strand eight Bears runners, striking out six on the way to the complete-game win.
At the plate, Knutson paced the Bears with a 2-for-4 day that included a double. Gabbie Chinnis (Charleston, SC/Charleston County School of Arts), Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee), Veenstra, Taz Tamai (Cincinati, OH/The Seven Hills School), Hasegawa, and pinch-hitter Alana Robinson (Benicia, CA/Benicia) each added a hit.
Up Next: Smith returns home to host Clark University in a NEWMAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 18, beginning at noon in Northampton.
About Smith Athletics Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information, log on to GoSmithBears.com and follow the Bears on Facebook and Instagram.
