April 14th, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jen Steele
(413) 585-3076

Northampton, MA: Junior Taryn Pestalozzi (Troutdale, OR) nailed a two-strike, two-out double to deep left field to plate two runs and give the Pioneers the 3-2 seventh inning victory over Wellesley in the first game of today’s matchup. The Pioneers swept the doubleheader winning the second game 6-5. With the wins the Pioneers improve to 6-6 in the conference and the Blue drops to 5-7 in NEWMAC competition.

Smith struck first in game one as they scored a run in the bottom of the first after Megan Kiefer (Oak Park, IL) walked and advanced to second on a single from senior second baseman Chloe Pete (Beaverton, OR). Junior captain Niki Banton (Shaver Lake, CA) followed with a single, loading the bases. After a wild pitch from the Blue’s Jenna Harvey (London, Ontario), Kiefer scored to give the Pioneers the 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second, Emily Hiltzik (Westbury, NY) got Harvey to line out to shortstop and struck out Alex Houghtalin (Haperwoods, MI). However, number seven hitter Amanda Tai (Melrose, MA) took a second pitch deep over the right center fence, knotting the score 1-1.

Wellesley struck again in the fourth when Alex Warren (Delta, BC) doubled and scored on Houghtalin’s double. They held the Pioneers scoreless until the bottom of the seventh. Pete and fellow senior Debbie Sasges (Vancouver, BC) hit back-to-back singles and advanced to load the bases on Crystal Fryer’s (Louisville, KY) two-out walk. Behind in the count and hitless in her previous three at-bats, Pestalozzi stepped up and delivered big time for the Pioneers, plating both Pete and Sasges to give Smith the game one win.

Hiltzik recorded the win, going the distance while surrendering only five hits and striking out one. Harvey took the loss for the Blue, giving up seven hits and striking out ten.

Wellesley attacked first in game two, scoring a run in the top of the second on Tai’s two-out RBI single. They added two additional runs in the third when Ilana Orloff (Weston, MA) reached first on a Kiefer error and advanced to second on a Megan Wood (Jacksonville, FL) single. After Alex Coari (Geneva, IL) reached first on a fielder’s choice, Kara Wong (Milford, MA) singled. Warren followed with a two-RBI double, giving the Blue the 3-0 lead.

The Pioneers answered back in the bottom half of the inning when first-year Anna Cressotti (Southampton, MA) singled and scored on Kiefer’s triple. Sasges followed with a one-out single, plating Kiefer and putting the Pioneers within one.

Wellesley mounted a comeback in the top of the fifth inning when Wong hit a two-RBI homerun deep over the left field fence. However the Pioneers would not settle, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Cressotti again started things for Smith, singling up the middle and then stealing second. After Kiefer grounded out to the shortstop, Pete singled and Cressotti advanced to third.  Pete then stole second and the speedy Cressotti scored on the throw. Sasges then followed with a right-field triple and scored three pitches later on Banton’s single. At the end of the fifth the score was tied 5-5.

Determined to walk away with the sweep the Pioneers continued their offensive attack in the bottom the sixth. After Pestalozzi struck out looking, designated player Erin Quinn (Northbrook, IL) drilled a double to center field. Pinch- runner Laura Robitzek (Auburn, ME) replaced Quinn and advanced to third on Cressotti’s third single of the game. Kiefer then hit a sac-fly to deep center field to easily score Robitzek and give the Pioneers their first lead of the game.

The 6-5 lead was all starting pitcher Dezarai Fisher (Phoenix, AZ) would need as she shut-down the Blue in the bottom of the seventh. Fisher picked up the win, giving up six hits while striking out two. Kristie Gola (Bordentown, NJ) took the loss for the Blue, giving up eleven hits while striking out three.

The Pioneers are back in action again Tuesday, April 17th as they host Brandeis for a non-conference match-up.