AMHERST, MA – The Amherst College softball team suffered a 9-3 loss to Smith College in game one of a non-conference doubleheader but was able to bounce back for a 3-2 win in the nightcap. Junior Maddie Tamagni (Salinas, CA) pitched the first 5.1 innings of game two and got the final two outs to earn her first win and first save of the season.
First-year Sam Presnal (Belchertown, MA) got Amherst started in the first inning of game one, as she and senior tri-captain Elizabeth Neckes (Dover, MA) singled through the left side and up the middle, respectively, before sophomore Emily Neill (Kentfield, CA) picked up an RBI on a single of her own to give the Jeffs an early 1-0 lead.
Smith came back with four runs—none of which were earned—in the top of the second thanks to an RBI-single from senior co-captain Kathryn Schoenen, which was followed by a two-RBI single up the middle by junior Erin Quinn. The Jeffs made two errors in the inning and failed to give starting pitcher Samantha Miller (Newton, MA) strong defensive support in the early going.
After the Pioneers chalked up another run in the third, Amherst loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Holly Trace (Northport, AL) picked up an RBI with a groundout to second base, but it would be the lone run the Jeffs would get in the inning, as they trailed 5-2 heading into the seventh.
Smith pulled away with its second four-run inning of the game, with sophomore Megan Kiefer doubling to left field for her second RBI of the game. Schoenen and Quinn followed up with doubles of their own, as Schoenen's hit brought in two runs and Quinn's scored one. Amherst was able to get one run back on a sacrifice fly by Neill, but it wasn't enough to catch the Pioneers, who earned their first road win of the season with the 9-3 victory.
Kiefer, Schoenen and first-year Salma Mehter each had three hits to lead Smith in the first game, while Neill, Presnal and senior Kelly King (Grosse Pointe Park, MI) had two hits apiece to pace the Jeffs. Junior Emily Hiltzik pitched five innings of relief to pick up the win and improve to 5-6, as she allowed two earned runs on six hits and struck out two. Miller (2-4) went 6.2 innings for Amherst, striking out three and scattering 14 hits for nine runs—four of which were unearned.
Game two began in similar fashion, with Amherst taking an early 1-0 lead when King brought in Neill with a groundout to second for an unearned run. The Jeffs increased their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-single up the middle from junior Emily Bularzik (Braintree, MA). Bularzik advanced to third on a two-base error, allowing King to drive her in with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Amherst starting pitcher Maddie Tamagni carried a shutout into the sixth inning but was relieved by Miller after walking junior Jessie Paull to load the bases with one out. Schoenen came around to score on a wild pitch before Hiltzik's fly ball to center field drove in Quinn for the second run of the inning, but Miller got out of the jam by getting the next batter to ground out to Neill at shortstop.
After Kiefer singled to left field with one out in the seventh, Tamagni was brought back into the game to finish what she started. After a groundout by junior co-captain Crystal Fryer, the game ended with Schoenen popping up to Neckes behind the plate for the third out. For her efforts, Tamagni was credited with the win and the save.
Quinn went 2-for-3 in the nightcap as the lone Pioneer with multiple hits, while Bularzik and sophomore Jackie Tyler (Ridgewood, NJ) each had two for Amherst. King was 0-for-2 in the second game but drove in a pair of crucial runs, with Bularzik providing the third RBI.
Tamagni allowed just six hits and no earned runs in 6.0 innings of work, while Miller surrendered just one hit in her relief stint. Senior Dezarai Fisher picked up the loss for Smith despite giving up just three hits and one earned run in 3.1 innings.
The Lord Jeffs (9-14) return to action Friday for a NESCAC West matchup with Wesleyan University. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. at Amherst College.
GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
