NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Clark University softball team (6-22, 1-11 NEWMAC) traveled to Smith (17-10-1, 7-5 NEWMAC) for a road NEWMAC series and fell to the Pioneers in both games on Saturday afternoon from the Smith Softball Field.
Game One: Smith 12, Clark 4 (F/6)
- Smith jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off a home run in the bottom of the first before sophomore Magdalena Barthel doubled and first-year Megan Dube walked, but both were left on base.
- After a scoreless second inning pitched by Dube, Clark jumped out to a 2-1 lead as senior Samantha Crowley scored on a wild pitch and sophomore Emelie Spence scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Rebecca Mauro.
- The Pioneers then scored two runs in the bottom of the third and a run in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a 5-2 lead.
- Clark pulled back within one in the top of the sixth when sophomore Keira Langus roped a two-RBI double to center field that scored Barthel and Mauro to make it 5-4.
- Smith scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to record a 12-4 win in game one.
Game Two: Smith 6, Clark 5 (F/8)
- Crowley and Spence each reached base, but were left on and in the first and second inning, sophomore Brooke Buzzeo tossed scoreless innings.
- The Cougars scored two runs in the top of the third when Mauro and sophomore Felicia Salvati each recorded RBI's to go up 2-0.
- Buzzeo pitched a scoreless third before the Pioneers tied the game in the fourth at 2-2.
- In the top of the fifth, Spence recorded an RBI single and Mauro belted an RBI double to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead.
- After a scoreless bottom half of the fifth, sophomore Madison Dillon and Crowley each reached base in the top of the sixth, but were left on base.
- Buzzeo allowed no runs in the sixth and with two outs in the seventh, the Pioneers hit a two-run homer to send the game into extras.
- Dillon hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to plate first-year Charlise Quigley and go up 5-4, but Smith plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth to win 6-5.
What's Next
Clark will return to the field on Friday afternoon when they welcome WPI to O'Brien Softball Field for a NEWMAC doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.