It was a big week for Amherst softball, as the Mammoths swept Smith College in a mid-week doubleheader and took two of three games from Williams in the weekend series.
In the first game of the week, Amherst needed only six innings to defeat Smith by a score of 9-0. Andrea Sanders ’20 had a huge day at the plate, racking up two hits and two RBIs while scoring two runs. Sammy Salustri ’19 also had a two-hit, three-RBI performance, and Kyra Naftel ’19 added a multi-hit game of her own.

Lorena Ukanwa ’19 threw a complete game shutout, allowing three hits and striking out ten batters, improving her record to 11-0 on the year in the process.

The Mammoths carried the momentum from their big win into the second game of the day, as they jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning. Ronnie Falasco ’21 led the charge with two home runs and four RBIs. All four hitters at the top of the lineup, Sanders, Salustri, Kate Kopatic ’20 and Audrey Hansen ’21 had multi-hit games.

Gina Pagan ’18 pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out seven batters. Emily Lachtara ’21 came on to shut the door, throwing one scoreless inning.

On Friday, Amherst kicked off its weekend series at Williams. After nine innings of play in game one, the score was still tied. Because the Williams softball field does not have any lights, play was suspended until the following day.

The conclusion of Friday’s game was played Saturday morning, and Williams topped Amherst 5-4 in 10 innings. Ally Kido ’18 was big for Amherst as she racked up two hits, including a two-run home run in the eighth. Kopatic, Alyson Plaman ’21 and Julia Turner ’19 all added multi-hit performances in the Mammoths’ heart-breaking defeat.

In the first game of Senior Day, Amherst relied on a big fourth inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Williams answered in the fifth with a solo home run, but Amherst responded by scoring three runs of its own in the fifth to wrap up a 7-1 victory.

Ukanwa improved to 12-0 on the year as she threw seven innings, striking out eight and allowing just three hits and one earned run.
The Mammoths’ offensive charge was led by Audrey Hansen ’21, as her three-run home run was part of a two-hit, four-RBI game for her. Amherst racked up nine hits on the day, many of them timely, as only three runners were left on base.

The third and final game of the series was a wild one from start to finish. Amherst led for much of the contest, but Williams tied the game up in the top of the seventh inning, as Lexi Curt hit a solo home run with two outs. The Mammoths kept competing, though, and won the game via a walk-off three-run home run from Falasco.

Much of Amherst’s offense came from the long-ball, as Annie Murphy ’19, Hansen and Falasco all went yard. Ultimately, this was a huge win for Amherst as there are only two NESCAC series remaining.
Up next, the Mammoths will play a double header at Keene State College on Wednesday, April 18 and a double header at home against Tufts on Saturday, April 21.