April 11, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703
Smith Softball Splits Doubleheader with Wheaton
Northampton, MA: The Pioneers split a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader with Wheaton College (9-0, 0-6) this afternoon in Northampton. Smith improved to 5-18 overall and 2-8 in the conference and Wheaton now stands 14-18 overall and 5-7 in NEWMAC competition.
In the opener of the doubleheader, the Pioneers exploded for six runs in the first inning. Megan Kiefer (Oak Park, IL) and Laura Robitzek (Auburn, ME) hit back-to-back singles to open the inning and Kiefer scored as Emily Hiltzik (Westbury, NY) reached on a fielder's choice. First year Sarah Goodman (Pittsford, NY) followed with a 2 RBI single. Senior firstbaseman Jessie Paull (Mercer Island, WA) got a base hit and both runners advanced on a Crystal Fryer (Louisville, KY) walk. Goodman scored on a ground out by outfielder Salma Mehter (Seattle, WA). Lauren Martinez (Phoeniz, AZ) and Kiefer followed with singles and each collected an RBI. The Pioneers added two more runs in the second and another in the fourth to take the victory. Wheaton's best opportunity to score was in the fourth inning but left two runners stranded. Emily Hiltzik (Westbury, NY) got the win for Smith as she gave up five hits in five innings and walked one while Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA) took the loss for the Lyons (8 hits, 8 runs, 1.1 innings).
The second game remained scoreless until the fifth inning when Wheaton's Emily O'Connell (Kennebunk, ME) singled, stole second and advanced to third on a Marissa Hobocan (Shelton, CT) sacrifice. Senior outfielder Brady Bento (Concord, NH) singled to score O'Connell. The Lyons added five more runs in the top of the seventh to take the 6-0 win.
Mary Fay (Stoughton, MA) picked up the win for Wheaton and gave up 4 hits in 6 innings while Hiltzik took the loss for Smith (11 hits, 6 runs, 7 innings). The Pioneers had chances to score in both the fourth and sixth innings but left two runners stranded in each.
