April 1, 2002
AMHERST, MA – The Amherst College softball team split a non-league doubleheader with visiting Smith College on Monday, dropping the first game, 2-0, and rebounding for a dramatic 5-4 win in the nightcap. The split moved Amherst's overall record to 9-5, while Smith improved to 9-7.
Senior hurler Lauren Peloquin (Berkley, MA) started the opener for Amherst and had a no-hit shutout going into the sixth inning. In the sixth, however, Smith senior center fielder Anna Marchefka (Greenfield, MA) reached base on a throwing error and scored on another Amherst defensive miscue, giving the Pioneers an unearned run and a 1-0 lead without the benefit of a base hit.
Smith finally ended the no-hitter in the seventh inning with a two-out double by sophomore right fielder Sarah Beaudry (Springfield, MA), followed by an RBI-single by classmate Dasen Woitkowski (Pittsfield, MA), adding an insurance run and setting the final score at 2-0.
Peloquin finished with a two-hitter but took the loss to fall to 8-3. Not to be outdone, Smith rookie starter Erica Hubbard (Bradford, MA) struck out eight batters and tossed a four-hit shutout, upping her pitching record to 7-2. Junior right fielder Tamara Baer (Amherst, NY) had two hits for Amherst.
In the nightcap, Amherst trailed 4-1 in the seventh inning but posted a four-run final frame to pull out a dramatic win. Baer capped the barrage with a game-winning two-run double, scoring sophomore first baseman Gina Scribner (Star, ID) and junior shortstop Missy Mordy (Sammamish, WA). Peloquin pitched three innings in relief of junior starter Emily Melia (Hingham, MA) and earned the win to improve to 9-3. Amherst scored its four runs in the seventh inning off Hubbard, who came on in relief of senior southpaw Kristen Clark (Williamstown, NY) in the sixth.
Baer, Mordy and sophomore third baseman Jessica Allen (Chagrin Falls, OH) each finished with two hits for Amherst, as did first-year third baseman Nicole Caffrey (Whitehall, PA) for Smith.
The Jeffs return to action Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. against visiting Mt. Holyoke.
Click HERE for full game-one box score...
Click HERE for full game-two box score...
