Scores:
Williams 9, Smith 1
Location: Williamstown, MA
Records: Williams 21-10; Smith 6-21
The Short Story:
The Ephs claimed a sunny mercy-rule victory against Smith College today at Cole Field. In her first game starting in the circle, pitcher Natalie Carter held down the Ephs defense. Carter held Smith scoreless for 3 innings and only allowed five hits the entire game. Sydney Fleming led the team's offense, going 2-for-2 at the plate with 2 RBIs and a homer. Fleming holds the record for most home runs in a career, with 44, and the record for most home runs in a season, with 16. The Ephs are looking to carry their momentum from today's game into another weekend of back-to-back NESCAC doubleheaders.
Coach's Take:
When asked what she hopes the team carries into the upcoming NESCAC games, Eph head Coach Kris Herman emphasized the importance of consistency: "We simply want to come to the field ready to play hard and to compete. Today we got good pitching, good defense and strong hitting," Herman reflected. "That's a recipe for success."
How it Happened
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Natalie Carter started her first game of the season and delivered six strong innings, giving up just five hits and one unearned run
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The Ephs struck early when Sidney Miller led off with a single through the left side, and Justine Dunaway followed with a 2-RBI single to put Williams on the board in the first inning
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In the second, Vicky Trujillo Balderas hit a solo homer to extend the lead to 3–0
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Smith's lone run came in the top of the fourth, scoring on an error
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Sydney Fleming hit a 2 RBI homer at the bottom of the 5th, marking her 16th home run of the season, the most home runs in a single season in program history
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The Ephs sealed the game in the sixth. Lauren Davis hit a 2-RBI double to bring home Aleks Albert and Aprill Medrano, then Katie Blanch followed with a 2-RBI single that scored Davis and Trujillo Balderas to make it 9–1 and end the game by mercy rule
Up Next: Amherst College, April 26th at noon in Williamstown, MA
