Athletics News and Press Releases

Softball Shuts Out WPI 2-0, Loses to Babson 1-0 at NEWMAC Softball Championship

Babson Park, MA: The Pioneers split their games today at the NEWMAC Softball Championship defeating WPI 2-0 and losing to Babson 1-0. The Pioneers will face Springfield tomorrow at 11 am while Babson will take on the winner of that game at 1 p.m.
     In the Pioneers' defeat of WPI, senior Katie Maroney (Santa Clarita, CA) pitched a four-hit shut-out as the third-seeded Pioneers advanced in the double-elimination tournament. Smith took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as junior Chloe Pete (Beaverton, OR) led off with a single, advanced to second on a ground-out and scored on an RBI-double to right center by junior Deb Sasges (Vancouver, B.C). The Pioneers scored again in the fifth inning as Pete once again got on base with a bunt single and moved to third on a throwing error. She then scored on an infield hit by first-year Crystal Fryer (Louisville, KY). With the win, Smith improved to 20-14 while Maroney picked up win number 11 against 5 loses.
     The Pioneers lost the second game 1-0 in a pitching duel between Maroney and Meghan Gaskell (Uxbridge, MA). Neither team put a runner in scoring position until the fourth when Sasges singled with two out and Sara Watson (Kent, WA) reached on an error. However, Gaskell got the third out without Smith able to cross the plate. With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the seventh and one out, Jess Cohen(Pittsford, NY) hit a home run that gave Babson the win.
     In other action today, Babson defeated Springfield 2-0 and Springfield eliminated WPI handing them their second loss of the day 4-0.