Smith College Bests Softball, 3-0

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore pitcher Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.) fanned a pair of batters, but Smith College pitcher Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J.) struck out nine batters and scattered five hits to help secure a complete-game shutout and lift the Pioneers to a 3-0 victory over the Blazers in Wednesday evening's non-conference softball game at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

With the loss, Elms moves to 9-13 on the season, while Smith improves to 8-19 overall.

Smith posted single runs in the top of the second and third innings. In the second, Edie Richardson (Franklin, Mass.) singled down the left field line, advanced to second when Kristina Gaffny (Reading, Mass.) was hit by a pitch, moved to third when Brittany Purington (Weare, N.H.) reached on an error and then scored when Tessa Clark (Calais, Maine) connected for an RBI single.

In the top of the third, Tori Brown (New Market, Md.) singled to the shortstop with two outs and then advanced to third when Richardson belted a double to left field. A single by Gaffny singled in Brown before Colson forced an inning-ending groundout to set the score at 2-0.

The sides played scoreless softball through the fourth, fifth and sixth frames before Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y.) reached on a bunt single to start the seventh inning and eventually scored when Martucci connected for a sacrifice fly to right field to give Smith a 3-0 advantage.

Martucci then retired the Blazers in order in the bottom of the seventh stanza highlighted by her eighth and ninth strikeouts of the contest to preserve the shutout.

Brown and Richardson were both 2 for 4 with a run scored in the winning effort, while Martucci improves to 5-12 in the circle.

Colson falls to 3-6 in the circle for Elms allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts. Senior third baseman Rachel Butt (Agawam, Mass.), freshman left fielder Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Mass.), freshman right fielder Samantha Alvino (Holtsville, N.Y.) and junior first baseman Ally Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) all had singles for the Blazers.

Senior catcher Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) legged out a double to highlight Elms' efforts at the dish.

Elms is back in conference action on Saturday, April 20 when it hosts Bay Path College at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. at Cheryl R. Condon Field.