Among the memorable performers of the Smith College matchup were Theresa Kelley ’13, who scored four runs and seven RBI’s, sophomore Carly Dudzik, who scored four runs and had five RBIs and senior tri-captain Jackie Tyler, who hit a combined 4-for-7 and scored five runs.
The first game against Smith ended in a 13-0 victory for the Jeffs. Kelley struck out five and did not surrender any walks. She came close to throwing a no-hitter, before Pioneers’ player Lauren Martinez managed to poke through a single in the fourth inning, securing their only hit for the game. The Pioneers also struggled defensively, committing eight errors that aided in the Jeffs victory. Amherst had 12 total hits in the game.
The Jeffs began the scoring barrage right off the bat, capitalizing in the first inning when senior tri-captain Emily Neill reached on an error, allowing fellow tri-captain Tyler to score. In the third inning, the team secured five more runs. Tyler scored due to another error and first-year Christina Anderson scored on a single by Dudzik. Kelley secured two RBI’s after hitting a single that allowed Neill and Dudzik to score and later wrapped up the inning by scoring a run herself.
Kelley netted her third RBI of the game in the fourth inning as the result of a walk that let Dudzik score. Horan later scored in the same inning on a walk by sophomore Joni Hirsch. The Jeffs brought the game to a close in the fifth inning after scoring five runs on three hits and three errors. Sophomore Stephanie Clegg secured an RBI early in the inning after hitting a double. Hirsch also doubled in the bottom of the inning, batting in two runs.
Keeping up the momentum of the first game, the Jeffs headed into the second game against Smith determined to achieve a doubleheader sweep. The first inning saw an impressive eight runs from the Jeffs as a result of six hits and four defensive errors. The Pioneers gathered themselves and showed some life in the second. Smith was able to get in four hits and two runs. In the end, it wasn’t enough and the game ended 14-2 in favor of the Jeffs, largely assisted by five Pioneers errors.
Leading off in the first inning, Tyler reached first base on an error by Pioneers shortstop Megan Kiefer. Anderson then singled and advanced to second base on another error by the Pioneers. With Tyler and Anderson both in scoring position, Dudzik hit a double, pushing both players across home plate. Horan was able to secure an RBI on an error by Pioneers’ first baseman Brittany Purington and Clegg hit an RBI double. Kelley hit a single, advanced to second base on a throw and also drove home two runs when Clegg and Horan scored. Dudzik wrapped up the scoring by hitting another double and earning two RBIs.
Exuding confidence, the Jeffs scored another five runs in the second inning. Kelley hit a two-RBI triple and first-year Megan Kepnach hit an RBI single. Tyler singled and then advanced to second base on the throw. Kepnach in turn advanced to third base and later scored, along with Tyler, on a single by Anderson.
Amherst also secured a run in the third inning from a RBI single by Kiefer and another in the fourth from a RBI single by Martinez. The Jeffs ended the day with Horan scoring on a passed ball in the fifth inning. Anderson, who pitched for the second game, allowed only four hits and had three strikeouts.
Yesterday afternoon, Amherst picked up a pair of wins against Hamilton College. The first game ended 5-1, with senior tri-captain pitcher Alex Chang-Graham earning the complete-game win. She allowed just one earned run on six hits and threw six strikeouts in the seven innings she pitched. She improves to 7-5. Tyler provided the Jeffs with an early 1-0 lead marking the 100th time she has scored a run in her college career. Horan scored two runs and went thre-for-four with a pair of doubles in the game.
The second game ended 4-2 in extra innings, with the Jeffs scoring four runs on 10 hits. Kelley allowed only two runs on four hits in the game, improving to 5-5. Horan ended the day five-for-eight after hitting the game-winning RBI single. “After all this rain and down time, it’s great to get back on the field and gain some momentum going into this last stretch of games,” said Horan of the day’s success.