Springfield, Mass. – March 26, 2011 – The Springfield College softball team plated 10 runs in both games of its doubleheader against visiting Clark as it swept the Cougars 10-5 and 10-2 in six innings in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at Potter Field on Saturday afternoon.

The victories bring Springfield’s record to 10-6 overall, 4-2 in league play, while the Cougars drop to 10-8, 2-2. SC has now won eight of its last 10 games.

In the first game, Springfield rallied from a 4-0 deficit to power past Clark, 10-5. Springfield had five players record a pair of hits, led by Amanda Novak, who belted the go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth for the Pride. Tess Gagliano ripped a pair of doubles, while Liz Milly went 2-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

SC starter Stef Grande lasted just two innings, allowing four runs, three earned, off five hits. Ashley Marino tossed the final five innings, giving up just two hits and one unearned run while striking out seven. Marino is now 5-3 on the season.

For Clark, Maya Allen went 3-4 with two runs scored, while Erin Murphy went 2-3 with two RBI. Sarah Carter was charged with the loss as she gave up 10 runs, eight earned, off 14 hits while striking out five and walking two.

The Cougars wasted no time getting their offense going as they scored two runs off three hits in the opening frame. Mel Melkonian ripped an RBI single up the middle to plate Allen, who led off the game with a double, and Murphy later singled to right to drive in Melkonian.

The visitors added two more in the third on an infield RBI single by Murphy and a sac fly by Shawna Amatucci. The Pride answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the third as Milly cracked a double to right field which scored Kasey Kelly and Gagliano.

Clark would score its final run of the game in the fourth on an Allen RBI-single to left, which plated Maureen Coakley who had reached base and moved into scoring position after a Springfield error and a wild pitch.

From there, it was all Springfield as the Pride’s bats came alive and Marino held the visitors without a hit over the final three innings. The Pride plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth and then took the lead for good in the fifth. After Clark recorded back-to-back errors to start the fifth, Novak blasted a towering shot over the right field fence to make it a 7-5 ball game. The Pride then recorded six hits in the sixth to score three more runs as it cruised to the win.

In the second game, it was 3-2, Springfield entering the bottom of the fifth. But the Pride scored twice in the fifth, then added five more in the sixth to win it on the mercy rule.

Freshman Jen Joseph received credit for the victory, her second in two days. She is now 4-1 on the season. She gave up six hits and two runs, one of which was earned. She struck out four and walked none.

For Clark, sophomore righthander and starter Nicole Meuse picked up the loss. She is now 4-3. Meuse gave up all 10 runs, only six of which were earned, and nine hits. She also struck out one and walked one. Junior Meghan Lennon came on to record one out, but walked in the winning run that allowed the game to end on the mercy rule.

For Springfield, Kasey Kelly went 3-4, scored two runs, and knocked in one more. Kelly Blake and Amanda Novak had two hits apiece. Novak and Tess Gagliano each smashed home runs in the third. Novak’s led off the inning, while Gagliano’s was a two-run job. SC led 3-1 after two innings.

Clark scored its second run in the fourth on a wild pitch.

The Pride scored twice in the fifth on a run-scoring error and on a sacrifice fly by Novak.

In the sixth, SC used four hits and two errors to help plate five runs. Breann Joyce opened the inning with a double down the left-field line. Kelly and Ally Rivelli had opposite-field RBI singles back-to-back. Blake followed that up with an RBI- single. Ultimately, Scuderi walked to drive in the final run.

The Pride will host Keene State for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon starting at 3:30 pm.