Athletics News and Press Releases

Softball Falls to Clark 11-8 in First Round NEWMAC Action

Northampton, MA: In first round action of the 2007 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Championship held at Springfield College yesterday, the Cougars of Clark University defeated Smith 11-8. With the loss, the Pioneers fell to 16-17 overall while Clark improved to 19-14. Smith will face Wheaton College on Saturday at 10:30 am at Springfield College and if the Pioneers win, they will advance to the 4 pm game.

     Clark, the number four seed in the six team double-elimination tournament, jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. First year Lauren Blake (Oakland, ME) led off with a walk, advanced on a sacrifice, a ground out and later scored on a double steal. Two outs and two walks later, first year pitcher Melissa Traft (Milton, MA) blasted a three-run home run to left field to give Clark the 4-0 advantage and then the Cougars added three more runs in the third to take a 7-0 lead.

     The Pioneers put five runs on the board in the sixth inning. Senior Chloe Pete (Beaverton, OR) singled and advanced on a wild pitch and then scored on a single by left fielder Deb Sasges (Vancouver, BC). With one out, Katie Schoenen (Ellicott City, MD) singled scoring Sasges. Crystal Fryer (Louisville, KY) then reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a home run by catcher Taryn Pestalozzi (Troutdale, OR).   Erin Quinn (Northbrook, IL) followed with a single as did Anna Cressotti (Southampton, MA) and Quinn scored on a double by Megan Kiefer (Oak Park, IL). The inning ended for Smith on a controversial call at the plate as Cressotti was called out on a ball-four wild pitch.

     The Cougars responded with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth that proved to put the game out of reach for Smith. The Pioneers closed to within three in the seventh with four straight singles including RBI singles by Schoenen, Pestalozzi and Quinn and had the tying run at the plate, but two fly outs to center ended the game.

      Traft picked up the win for Clark while Emily Hiltzik (Westbury, NY) took the loss for the Pioneers.