Scores:
Game 1: Williams 8, Smith 1
Game 2: Williams 1, Smith 0 (F/5)
Location: Northampton, MA
Records: Williams 12-9, Smith 9-12
The Short Story: Eph pitchers Elyse Chan '25, Adhya Tandon '23, and Madison Mok '24 held Smith in check on offense, limiting the Pioneers to just one run in 12 innings of play. While Williams provided their pitchers much more run support in Game 1, one run proved to be enough to win Game 2.
Coach's Take: "Against Middlebury, in both our wins and losses, it felt like we were hitting the ball hard, but things weren't going our way. It was great to keep the pressure on today and give up just one run. We know we have a really strong-hitting team, so we're excited to keep moving forward."– Kris Herman
How it Happened
- Catcher Sydney Fleming '25 got the Ephs on the board early with a two-out, solo home run in the top of the first inning of Game 1. Williams scored three more times in the second, starting the inning with four consecutive hits.
- Smith center fielder Kiera Collins-Joseph executed a successful drag bunt with two outs in the fifth and came all the way around to score on a double by shortstop Piper Corey to make it 4-1. In the sixth, Eph left fielder Tayler Wise '24 added an insurance run with an RBI groundout before Williams broke the game open with three more runs in the seventh.
- In the top of the third of Game 2, Wise led off with a single and right fielder Mara Kipnis '22 jumped on the first pitch and hit a double over the head of Smith left fielder Lexi Balam to put two runners in scoring position with no one out. Fleming then hit an RBI groundout, scoring the game's only run.
- With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the third, Mok relieved Tandon and got out of the jam. The Pioneers didn't advance a runner past first base for the rest of the game.
- In Game 1, the Ephs racked up 14 hits, but only two of them went for extra bases. Five Ephs recorded multiple hits, including third baseman Kelly McGuigan '24, who led the team with three.
- Chan pitched her third consecutive complete game in Game 1, giving up just one run and striking out nine Pioneers.
- Game 2 marked the Ephs' second shutout win of the season, and their first since a 9-0 win against Wellesley on March 23. Both shutout victories came in five-inning games.
- This Friday at 5PM, the Ephs will return home to play the first game of a three-game set against Wesleyan. The second and third games will be played as a doubleheader, starting Saturday at 12PM.
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