NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Alyssa Clark (Uxbridge, Mass.) and Sarah Bingham (Reno, Nev.) connected for consecutive doubles in the seventh to break a scoreless game one, and Stephanie Scoville (Northfield, Mass.) slammed the door shut with three perfect frames to lead the Owls to a 1-0 victory over Smith College in a doubleheader set from Northampton, Mass. on Wednesday afternoon.
Game two was a back and forth contest with the game finishing in an 8-8 tie due to darkness and rain.
The Owls improve to 9-4-1 on the season while the Pioneers own a 6-5-1 overall mark on the year.
GAME 1
A pitcher's duel broke out to open the doubleheader set with Gianna Conte (Greenfield, Mass.) and Scoville combining for the shutout in game one. Emilie Doty (Arlington, Va.) was also effective in the circle for the Pioneers, racking up a season-high 14 strikeouts over seven innings, taking the loss after a late, seventh inning rally from the Owls.
With the game scoreless heading into the seventh inning, Alyssa Clark poked a one-out double down the leftfield line, setting up Bingham who followed by tagging a deep fly ball that sailed over the centerfielder's head to plate Clark for a run-scoring double.
Bingham's RBI double was the lone run tallied from either side as Scoville shut down the Pioneers bats to the tune of three perfect innings, striking out three and picking up her fourth win of the season.
Conte started game one for the Owls, not allowing a run over the first four innings, giving up four hits and two walks while fanning three hitters.
Smith put a runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings, but Conte managed to work around the scoring threats. In the third inning, Conte forced an inning-ending double play on a line out to Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) in center, followed by a two-out punchout in the ensuing bottom half to strand a runner on third base.
GAME 2
The bats heated up on both sides in game two, with the Owls picking up right where they left off to finish game one. Mia Alfonso (Dalton, Mass.) put Westfield ahead in the top half of the first, grounding a ball back up the middle for a run-scoring hit to score Lummus.
Smith responded in the bottom half of the frame by posting three runs, including a two-run double from CeCe Alaniz (Bakersfield, Calif.) to give the Pioneers a 3-1 lead after one inning.
The Owls immediately answered with three runs of their own in the ensuing top half, taking advantage of a pair of Pioneers' miscues to eventually retake the lead on a wild pitch that allowed Rachel Brewer-Karimi (Torrington, Conn.) to score.
The lead changed hands once again in the bottom half with the Pioneers going ahead 5-4 before Westfield showed solid plate discipline by drawing six walks in the third to retake and push the lead up to three runs.
The seesaw affair continued with Alaniz mashing a solo homer in the third, then a two-out liner into leftfield by Ally Knutson (Green Bay, Wisc.) scored two runs to tie the game at eight runs apiece where the game would eventually be called after five complete innings due to darkness and rain.
Sarah Hough (Southwick, Mass.) and Alphonso recorded two RBI. Abby Clark (Uxbridge, Mass.) laced a leadoff triple in the third to jumpstart a four-run frame.
Scoville pitched the entirety of game two, allowing three earned runs (eight runs) on six hits across five frames, striking out eight and walking four.
Westfield State will begin conference play this upcoming weekend as the Owls travel to Mass. Maritime for a doubleheader beginning at noon.