WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS – The Williams College Softball team (9-9/3-1 NESCAC) played Smith College today at Cole Field. After securing the first game 8-5, the Ephs went on to win the second game, pitched by
Elyse Chan, 9-1. Chan allowed just two hits by the Pioneers. With the win the Ephs improved to 9-9 on their year and extended their win streak to 4 games.
In the first game, Smith scored a run in the first inning followed by a homer in the third inning to lead 3-0. The Ephs quickly bounced back in the bottom of the inning when Kelly McGuigan doubled to right field, allowing both
Kayla Chang and
Kaia Glickman to score.
Sydney Fleming followed that up with her third homer in three days, giving Williams a 4-3 lead. Smith took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but again the Ephs responded.
Bri Kang hit the Ephs second home run of the day to tie the game at 5 all, before McGuigan singled to center, driving in Aly Granados to put the Ephs up 6-5. In the sixth, McGuigan's double to right field brought both Chang and Taylor Wise home, marking her remarkable fifth RBI of the day and boosting the Eph lead to 8-5.
Madison Mok was the Eph starting pitched in game one and she was relieved by
Sadie Leonard who went five innings and struck out eight batters to earn her sixth win on the year.
The second game was highlighted by Chan's impressive pitching, allowing Smith only two hits, striking out five, over the course of the game and allowing but one run. The Ephs finished the first inning up 3-1 thanks to a single by McGuigan that drove in
Tayler Wise, a double down the left field line by
Bailey Burger-Moore that brought McGuigan home. Ronnie Ramos then singled home Burger-Moore.
Wise and McGuigan scored again in the second on a second RBI from Burger-Moore, and runs from
Savannah Slater and Kang left the score at 7-1 by the end of the inning. Wise singled up the middle in the third, allowing
Lauren Haywood to score, and
Madison Mok provided the last run of the day scoring when McGuigan singled to left center, ending the game at 9-1 via the 8-run rule.
"There were a lot of great individual performances and overall an attitude of perseverance from the team," says Ephs Head Coach
Kris Herman. "Sadie and Elyse both pitched very well and the offense was generally on point, led by an incredible day at the plate for Kelly McGuigan.
"We keep battling every day and are growing as a team. The goal is to be at your best every day and have that keep getting better as the season goes on."
Next up for the Ephs is a doubleheader at home vs. Tufts this Saturday on Cole Field starting at 12 P.M.
