March 28, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Smith Softball Splits Doubleheader With WPI

Northampton, MA: The Pioneers split a doubleheader (1-4,5-3) with Worcester Polytechnic Institute in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action today in Northampton, Massachusetts. WPI improved to 6-11 overall and 2-2 in the NEWMAC while the host Pioneers are now 4-11 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Kelly Johnson (Buxton, ME) led off the first inning with a walk followed by a single by Nicole Maglione (Charlton, MA). Jen Richards (Hampstead, NH) reached on a error and advanced to second as Johnson scored.  Sara Migdal (Galway, NY) walked and a single by Meg Foley (Belchertown, MA) scored Maglione to give the Engineers a 2-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Maglione hit one of her two homeruns of the day and in fifth inning, Allie Roche (Chelmsford, MA) hit one out of the park to give the Engineers a comforable 4-0 lead. The Pioneers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning on a walk by Megan Kiefer (Oak Park, IL) and singles by Laura Robitzek (Auburn, ME) and Erin Quinn (Northbrook, IL).  Quinn took the loss on the mound for Smith as she gave up two runs after facing five batters. Allie Hardy (Townsend, MA) registered the win for WPI. 

In the opening inning of the second game, Maglione and Richards hit back-to-back homeruns to give the Engineers a 2-0 lead that held until the bottom of the fourth when Smith exploded for four runs. Pitcher Emily Hiltzik (Westbury, NY) and first baseman Jessie Paull (Mercer Island, WA) each singled followed by a two run double by Lauren Martinez (Phoeniz, AZ).  Kiefer hit a triple and then she and Martinez scored on a error to give the Pioneers a 4-2 lead. The Engineers added a run in the fifth to close within one but the Pioneers tallied an insurance run in the sixth to give Smith the 5-3 victory. Hiltzik picked up her second win of the season while Erin Flaherty (Stoughton, MA) took the loss for WPI.

Both teams are in action on Monday, March 30 when Smith travels to Elms and WPI hosts Fitchburg State.