AMHERST, Mass. — Smith College (11-10) secured two victories over Amherst College (7-11) during a doubleheader at Amherst SB Field on Wednesday. The Bears won the first game decisively with a score of 6-1, followed by a 4-2 triumph in the second matchup.
In the first game, Smith's offense was fueled by 10 hits and seven walks, while their pitching staff held Amherst to just one run across seven innings. Amherst took an early lead in the first inning when May Mishima scored on a throwing error after a single by Lulu Leppard, making it 1-0 after one inning.
Smith responded in the second inning.
Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point), who recorded at least 3 hits in 2 consecutive games, doubled and later scored when
Ally Knutson (Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) singled up the middle, bringing in both Gray and
Sophie Hasegawa (Palos Verdes Estates, CA/Palos Verdes). The Bears led 2-1 at the end of the second inning.
The game remained scoreless through the third and fourth innings. In the fifth, Smith extended its lead.
Gabbie Chinnis (Charleston, SC/Charleston County School of Arts) walked, stole second, and scored on a single and throwing error by
Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee). Gray then singled to bring Peverly home, pushing the score to 4-1 after five innings.
Smith added two more runs in the seventh inning.
Anna Gray (Santa Barbara, CA/Dos Pueblos), pinch running for
Riley Veenstra (Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd), scored on a wild pitch, followed by Gray scoring on a
Taz Tamai (Cincinati, OH/The Seven Hills School) single, solidifying the Bears' lead to 6-1.
Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee) delivered a complete game performance, pitching all 7 innings without allowing an earned run, striking out 3 batters and improving her season record to 6-5. Knutson contributed significantly with two hits and drove in two runs, while Gray excelled offensively, scoring two runs and collecting three hits, including a double.
In the second game, Smith scored all four of its runs in the first three innings, capitalizing on a two-run third inning to establish an early lead. The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when
Gabbie Chinnis (Charleston, SC/Charleston County School of Arts) singled and advanced on a stolen base, with
Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point) reaching first on a throwing error that allowed Chinnis to score an unearned run.
Smith added another run in the second inning when
Sophie Hasegawa (Palos Verdes Estates, CA/Palos Verdes) singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by
Taz Tamai (Cincinati, OH/The Seven Hills School).
Lily Hackett (Concord, NH/Concord) then singled to bring Hasegawa home, extending the Bears' lead to 2-0. The third inning saw the Bears adding two more runs with Chinnis and
Violet Peverly (Granby, CT/Loomis Chaffee) on base. Gray's groundout brought Chinnis home, and Hasegawa's single scored Peverly, pushing the Bears' lead to 4-0.
Amherst responded in the fifth inning with two runs when Lulu Leppard tripled and scored along with Abby Rebhan, who reached base on a walk. However, the Bears maintained their lead through the sixth and seventh innings, securing a 4-2 victory.
Bailey Gray (Missouri City, TX/Ridge Point) pitched a complete game for the Bears in the second match, allowing two earned runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings, recording two strikeouts and issuing three walks, contributing to her fifth win of the season. Chinnis scored two runs and collected two hits, adding a stolen base, while Hasegawa contributed with two hits, one run scored, and an RBI.
Elinor Washington (Sacramento, CA/Pleasant Grove) added a double, tallying one hit in the contest.
Smith's overall record now stands at 11-10, while Amherst holds a record of 7-11.
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.
