Northampton, Mass.-April 2, 2015- The Springfield College softball team used a late rally in the opening game to power past Smith College, 8-5, before it edged the Pioneers 4-3 on Thursday afternoon in New England Women's and Men's Athletics Conference (NEWMAC) play.

With the win the Pride move to 7-11 on the season, 5-1 in conference play.  The Pioneers fall to 4-10, 0-6 in conference play. 

Springfield will head home for its season home opener on Saturday versus MIT.  Game times are 12:00pm and 2:00pm.

Springfield 8, Smith 5

Smith was the first on the board in game one, as it tacked a run on the board in the third inning off an RBI double to left from Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y.).  The Pioneers added two more runs in the fourth as Sarah Tully (West Simsbury, Conn.) ripped a double up the middle to allow Rowan Turner (Prairie Village, Kan.) to score.  A couple batters later, Ruth Zimmerman (Edison, N.J.) connected with a single to right to allow Tully to advance to home plate.

The Pride put together a rally in the fifth inning after Elizabeth Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) started the top of the inning off with a double to left field.  Alicia Pavadore (Taunton, Mass.) then singled up the middle to move Joseph over to third.  Carianna Gasdia (Wakefield, Mass.) loaded the bases, as she dropped down a bunt, which moved Pavadore to second and kept Joseph at third.  With Melissa Nelson (Milford, Conn.) up and the bases juiced, the junior found a pitch she liked to force the ball through the left side of the infield, scoring both Joseph and Pavadore on the play.  Jenna Webb (Harrison, N.Y.) later tied up the game with an RBI single.

Springfield moved ahead in the top of the sixth with another single from Pavadore.  Emily Reynolds (Charlton, Mass.) who reached safely on a single and sacrificed over to third was able to touch home on the play.

Smith responded in the sixth inning when Allison Snyder (Succasunna, N.J.) ripped a solo shot to even the score at 4-4.

The Pride retaliated in the seventh, scoring four runs on four hits.  Talia Loda (East Haven, Conn.) started the inning off with a double.  After Reynolds reached base from being hit by a pitch, Joseph stepped up to the plate with two runners on.  Joseph turned on a pitch and delivered a game-sealing three-run shot.

Smith threatened in the bottom half of the inning with a single from Tori Brown (New Market, Md.) and two arrant pitches allowed Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, N.J.) to land on third.  The score would reach 8-5 with an RBI groundout from Turner, but That would be as far as the Pioneers would land as the Pride solidified the 8-5 victory.

Pavadore led the way with three hits in her four at-bats.  Joseph pitched in with an all-around solid outing, as she produced two runs, three runs-batted in her two hits.  Webb, Drobiak and Gasdia also had two hit performances.

Jordyn Moquin (Southington, Conn.) collected the win for the Pride as she pitched two innings of relief in which she allowed two runs on three hits.

Springfield 4, Smith 3

The Pride scored early in game two, which began with a RBI single from Webb.  Webb cleared the ball past the infield to allow Morgillo to run around from second base.

Smith responded with three runs of its own in the second inning.  Richardson got things going with a walk, followed by a single to the left side from Turner.  Things started to pick up for Smith as Kushner stepped up and slammed a double down the left field line to score Richardson from second and advance Turner to third.   After a fielder's choice and a single, the Pioneers found itself in the lead, 2-1.  Zimmerman was able to extend the inning after she worked herself a walk with the bases loaded to plate a run.

Springfield regrouped in the third, as the inning was led off with a double from Morgillo. The sophomore was able to later score on a ground out before Tasha Polana (Orange, Mass.) tied the game with a towering home run. 

The Pride collected the go-ahead and winning run in the fourth inning.  Joseph continued her power streak as she yanked a solo blast to left field put Springfield ahead for good.

Webb led the offensive attack with three hits in her four at-bats, adding a run batted in to her stat line.  Nelson chipped in with two hits, as well as Drobiak who also knocked in a runner.

Nicole Cring (Cooperstown, N.Y.) collected the win as she pitched an impressive three and two-thirds innings.  The sophomore rang-up two and only surrendered  two hits.