WORCESTER, Mass. – The Clark University softball team (13-14, 4-7 NEWMAC) welcomed Smith (6-21, 2-10 NEWMAC) to O'Brien Field on Saturday afternoon and after falling in game one, scored a season-high nine runs in conference play to help the team earn a series split.
Game One: Smith 3, Clark 2
- Sophomore Megan Dube retired the side in order in the top of the first before graduate student Rebecca Mauro drew a walk in the bottom of the inning, but was left on base.
- After two more scoreless innings from Dube, Dube helped her cause on the mound with a single to center field that brought home Mauro and sophomore Charlise Quigley to take a 2-0 lead.
- Smith tied the game at 2-2 in the second with RBI's from Knutson and Wajerski before junior Brooke Buzzeo tossed a scoreless fifth inning.
- The Pioneers loaded the bases in the sixth, but Mauro threw a runner out at home and Buzzeo forced a groundout to end the inning.
- Smith scored the game-winning run in the seventh off an error to come away with a 3-2 victory.
Game Two: Clark 9, Smith 5
- Smith jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first before Clark plated four runs in the bottom of the first as Mauro, Dube, and junior Felicia Salvati all recorded RBI's to give the Cougars a 4-1 lead.
- Sophomore Hannah Wagstaff retired the side in order in the second and in the bottom of the inning, Mauro drove in another run to push the edge to 5-1.
- The Pioneers scored three runs in the top of the third before Clark plated two more runs in the third as Quigley and first-year Avery Dillon recorded RBI's as the Cougars held a 7-4 advantage.
- Buzzeo entered in relief and tossed a scoreless fourth, fifth, and sixth before Mauro and Dube each tallied RBI's to give the scarlet and white a 9-4 edge.
- Smith plated a run in the seventh, but Buzzeo forced a fielder's choice to give Clark a 9-5 victory.
What's Next
The scarlet and white will travel to Nichols for their final non-conference doubleheader of the year beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.