WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., April 5, 2006 - Springfield College senior first baseman Keir Stanford (Melrose, Mass.) went 3-for-5 in two games with two RBI and two runs scored, but it was Williams College which slipped past the Pride by a score of 3-2 in both non-conference contests this afternoon in Williamstown, Mass.

In the first game, with SC down 1-0 heading into the top of the seventh inning, Stanford homered to extend the contest into extra innings. With the score still tied a one apiece heading into the ninth inning, the senior first baseman pulled through in the clutch once again, singling to score freshman centerfielder Angela Atkins (East Haddam, Conn.) from second base.

It was not meant to be, however, as the Ephs rallied to score two in the bottom half of the ninth to take game one, 3-2. Williams third baseman Christine Williams hit an RBI double to tie the game up, and then later in the inning, Ephs catcher Katelyn Knox singled to bring home the game-winning run.

Sophomore right-hander Stephanie Blackman (Stamford, Conn.) was the hard-luck loser in game one, hurling eight and one-thirds innings, giving up just two earned runs while striking out four and walking one.

In game two it was much of the same for the Pride, as SC clung to a one-run lead (2-1) heading into the bottom half of the fifth inning. Williams quickly changed that, however, as second baseman Alana Frost hit a home run to tie the contest at two apiece. In the bottom of the sixth, which turned into the last inning of the second game because of darkness, shorstop Taryn Goodman singled in the winning run as the Ephs once again walked off with a 3-2 victory.

The Pride falls to 11-12 overall on the season as it next returns to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play. SC will host Smith College in a conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon, April 7th, in a 3:30 p.m. start.

published: 04/06/2006