AMHERST, MA – Amherst College scored all eight of its runs and recorded six of its seven hits in the fourth inning of a shutout win over Smith College in NCAA Division III softball action. The Lord Jeffs improve to 15-5 on the season to mark their highest win total since 2006, while the Pioneers fall to 5-20.
The Pioneers threatened in the top of the second when they put runners on second and third with only one out. First-year Sarah Goodman (Pittsford, NY) drew a walk and senior Jessie Paull (Mercer Island, WA) singled before each runner advanced on a wild pitch, but Amherst starting pitcher Alex Chang-Graham (San Carlos, CA) got the next batter to ground into a key 4-3-6 double play to end the inning.
With the game scoreless heading into the bottom of the fourth, first-year designated player Stephanie Clegg (Woburn, MA) put Amherst on the board with an RBI-double to left center that scored classmate Carly Dudzik (Darien, CT), who led off the inning with a walk.
First-year catcher Annemarie Iker (Mill Valley, CA), junior Jackie Tyler (Ridgewood, NJ) and Dudzik each added an RBI-single in the fourth, while senior co-captain Maddie Tamagni (Salinas, CA) drove in a pair with a double to left center. Junior second baseman Emily Neill (Kentfield, CA) capped off the scoring with a double of her own that brought home Dudzik, who had stolen second base to put herself into scoring position.
Chang-Graham—the reigning NESCAC Pitcher of the Week—allowed only one hit in the first four innings before surrendering two in the fifth to senior Crystal Fryer (Louisville, KY) and sophomore Salma Mehter (Seattle, WA). Amherst's ace improved to 12-1 on the season, striking out four and walking one in 5.0 innings.
Smith starting pitcher Emily Hiltzik (Westbury, NY) allowed only one hit through the first three innings before Amherst's bats came alive in the fourth. Hiltzik struck out one, walked three and surrendered four earned runs on seven hits to move to 3-15 on the year.
Amherst's 15-5 record marks head coach Sue Everden's highest win total through the first 20 games of the season since 2000, as the Lord Jeffs have established themselves as one of the best teams in the region.
The Lord Jeffs will play four crucial NESCAC West games this weekend. After traveling to take on Middlebury College in a three-game series on Friday and Saturday, the Jeffs will host Hamilton College on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
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