NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - Junior
Katie Blanch of the Williams College softball team went 3-of-4 batting, with five RBIs, two homers, two runs and one double, during a 10-4 triumph at Smith Tuesday.
The Ephs (16-9, 7-1 NESCAC) also received strong offensive efforts by first-year
Haley Barrett (3 for 4, 2 runs, 1 RBI), junior
Justine Dunaway (2 of 4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 double) and sophomore
Aprill Medrano (2 for 4, 1 run). Junior starting pitcher
Natalie Carter earned her first win of the season, going 6 1/3 innings and not walking a single batter. She only allowed three earned runs and posted a one-two-three fourth inning.
The Bears (13-11, 5-3 NEWMAC) were led by Ally Knutson (2 for 4, 2 RBIs, 1 double, 1 run) and Gabbie Chinnis (2 of 4).
Smith built a 1-0 advantage during the first inning on a two-out, RBI single by Riley Veenstra. Blanch evened the game with a leadoff, solo home run in the second. The hosts took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the inning, as Knutson tallied a two-run double to left-center and Taz Tamai blasted a one-run double to left-center.
The Ephs responded by scoring the game's final nine runs. During the third, Dunaway and Blanch recorded back-to-back RBI doubles, pulling the Ephs to within one at 4-3. The visitors took the lead for good with a three-run fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run single to left by first-year
Ayane Rokugawa and an RBI single to left-center by Barrett.
Williams ended the scoring with a four-run push in the sixth, as Blanch drilled a three-run shot and Dunaway posted an RBI single to left-center.
The Ephs compete against RPI Wednesday in a doubleheader, with game times set for 3 and 5 p.m. on Cole Field.
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