April 11, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Softball Drops Doubleheader at Coast Guard

Northampton, MA: Sophomore Lauren Martinez (Phoenix, AZ) had a perfect day for the Pioneers going 5-for-5 at the plate but Smith dropped a NEWMAC doubleheader to Coast Guard, the number one team in New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) poll. With the losses, the Pioneers fell to 4-17 on the season and 1-7 in the conference while the Bears improved to 24-2 overall and 9-0 in NEWMAC action.

The Bears scored four runs in the first inning that included a three-run homer by junior Courtney Wolf which proved be enough for Coast Guard's 9-1 victory. The Pioneers tallied their only run in the third inning as Martinez and Megan Kiefer (Oak Park, IL) singled. Martinez stole third and pitcher Emily Hiltzik (Westbury, NY) picked up an RBI on her ground out to the shortstop. Hiltzik took the loss on the mound for the Pioneers.

In game two, the Pioneers scored three unearned runs in the first inning on hits by Kiefer, Laura Robitzek (Auburn, ME) and an RBI single by Crystal Fryer (Louisville, KY) and two Bear errors.Coast Guard tallied one in the bottom of the first and took the lead in the third with two outs on an RBI single by Frederick and a two-run homer by Wolf.  The home team added two more runs in the 5th as back-to-back homeruns by Wolf and Buchert sealed the Bear victory. Hiltzik took the 6-3 loss for Smith.

Senior Jessie Paull (Mercer Island, WA) collected two hits in the first game for the Pioneers while Fryer picked up two in the second. Courtney Wolf went 6-6 for Coast Guard with three homeruns and 7 RBI's.

The Pioneers host NEWMAC opponent Wheaton College on Saturday, April 10 at 2 pm.