For Immediate Release
April 26, 2008
Wellesley Sports Information
Clark Advances Over Smith in NEWMAC Tournament
WELLESLEY, Mass. -- In game five of the New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Tournament, Clark University used timely hitting and solid pitching to defeat Smith College 3-1. With the loss, the Pioneers' end their season with a record of 15-22. The Cougars, now 21-11, advance to the consolation bracket semifinal at 4:00 today at Wellesley College, where they will face the winner of today's Babson-Springfield game.
Clark took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, when Lauren Blake (Oakland, Maine) was hit by a pitch and came around to score on Julie Parnell’s (Webster, Mass.) double to leftcenter. The Cougars threatened again in the second, loading the bases with two out. But Smith shortstop Kate Schoenen (Ellicott City, Md.) snagged a grounder deep in the hole to get the force out at third and end the inning.
Clark added to its lead in the top of third, as Heather Warren (Upland, Calif.) led off with a single and Darcy Kurashige-Elliott (Berkeley, Calif.) followed with a walk. Joanna Clark (Windham, Maine) then hammered a single to rightcenter, driving in both Warren and Kurashige-Elliott for a 3-0 lead.
Smith got on the board in the fifth, when Taryn Pestalozzi (Troutdale, Ore.) led off with a double to leftcenter and came around to score on Emily Hiltzik's (Westbury, N.Y.) single, trimming the Cougars' lead to 3-1.But Clark's Melissa Traft (Milton, Maine) held Smith scoreless the rest of the way to earn the win.
Clark tallied eight hits, including three from Chelsea Proulx (Franklin, N.H.). For the Pioneers, Crystal Fryer (Louisville, Ky.) had two hits, while Pestalozzi and Hiltzik chipped one each. Hiltzik took the loss for Smith, allowing eight hits and three runs.
The NEWMAC softball tournament continues today and tomorrow at Wellesley College. Complete tournament information can be found at: http://www.wellesley.edu/athletics/athletics/softball/newmac/index.html