Softball Wins Game One Late, Scores Early and Often in Game Two at Smith

WPI News Archive


Apr 14, 2017





Northampton, MA --- Freshman Mackenzie Phillips (Gill, MA) pitched a two-hit shutout and junior Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) broke open a scoreless game with an RBI triple in the opener while sophomore Renee LeClaire (Merrimack, NH) was one of two Engineers to notch a trio of hits in game two as WPI defeated host Smith, 4-0 and 15-4 (5 inn.), Friday afternoon in a NEWMAC Softball doubleheader.
The Engineers (18-10, 9-3 NEWMAC) have now won six consecutive games, including back-to-back conference sweeps, over the span of four days. The Pioneers, meanwhile, move to 6-18 and 3-9.
Phillips and Smith senior Natalie Burchat (Shrewsbury, MA) did not issue a walk and only allowed two hits through the first five innings of the day. Senior Hope Shevchuk (Burlington, CT) began the top of the sixth with a double to third and was promptly plated by Biney. With two on, LeClaire sent a sacrifice fly to left followed by an RBI hit to left by junior RiAnna May (Westminster, CO). Biney later added a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
All seven of the Engineers hits were by different student-athletes, including doubles by sophomore Kylie Juarez (Elk Grove, CA) and Shevchuk, and a triple by Biney. Shevchuk also laid down a sacrifice bunt. Phillips yielded three hits and one walk while fanning six for her third win in four days.
Sophomores Emma Kraus (Wakefield, MA) and Tyler Feeney (Merrimac, MA) had the early hits for the Pioneers while junior Rowan Turner (Kansas City, KS) logged one in the bottom of the seventh. Senior Brittney Blokker (Seattle, WA) drew the lone walk and stole the only two bases of the game. Burchat ended up allowing seven hits and striking out one in the setback.
Biney also factored into the first run of the second game as she came home on a miscue put into play ...

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