NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Clark University softball team (6-16, 2-14 NEWMAC) split a NEWMAC series against Smith (12-21, 6-10 NEWMAC) on Friday from the Smith Softball Field.

Clark fell 9-1 in game one and took game two 6-5.    

Game One: Smith 9, Clark 1 (F/5)

• Seniors Francesca Cirone and Jessica Martin each singled in the top of the first, but neither were able to come around to score.
• Smith took a 3-0 edge after one and in the top of the second, juniors Kaylee Armida and Nicole Buckley reached second and third when Buckley doubled down the right field line to advance Armida to third before Smith got out of the jam.
• Martin plated Clark's one run of the game in the top of the third when she belted a double to center field that scored Cirone.

Game Two: Clark 6, Smith 5

• The Cougars bats showed up early in game two when senior Kaylee Gibson and Armida each drove in runs with an RBI groundout and an RBI single.
• After the Pioneers took a 4-2 lead, senior Kaitlin recorded a two-RBI single to center field to score Gibson and Martin to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the third.
• Junior Natalie Stilwell gave Clark a 5-4 advantage by driving in the Cougars third run of the inning with an RBI single to left field that plated Armida.
• Buckley took the mound in the bottom of the second and only allowed one run from the second to fourth inning.
• Clark got runners on second and third in the top of the fourth with Armida reaching second and Martin reached third, but the Pioneers again got out of a jam.
• The Cougars took the lead in the top of the sixth when Gibson singled to left center and plated Cirone to give Clark a 6-5 lead.
• Buckley recorded the final six outs of the game on the mound as the Cougars won game two 6-5.

What's Next

Clark will be back in action tomorrow when they close their season with a doubleheader against Babson beginning at 12:00 p.m.