Softball can't keep pace with Williams, drops pair of games

Williamstown, MA-- The Williams College Ephs earned a pair of five inning victories this afternoon against crosstown foe MCLA.  The Ephs took the opening game 9-0 before taking the nightcap 10-2.  Williams is now 20-13 overal while the Trailblazers are just 5-28.

Release courtesy of Williams Sports Information

The Short Story: The Ephs started strong and never looked back in both games, scoring a combined 11 runs in the first inning. Shortstop Ronni Ramos '24 and catcher/outfielder Mara Kipnis '22 combined for five home runs on the day, and pitcher Madison Mok '24 threw a complete-game shutout in Game 1.
 
How it Happened

• In Game 1, the Ephs pounced on MCLA pitcher Sarah Williams early. After center fielder Alyana Granados '23 was hit by a pitch and left fielder Tayler Wise '24 singled, Ramos hit a three-run homer to make it 3-0. Williams added four more runs to make it 7-0 at the end of the first.
• Neither team scored in the second or third, but Ramos hit her second home run of the game in the fourth to make it 8-0, and two batters later, Kipnis followed with a solo shot to right center to make it 9-0. Mok retired the Trailblazers in order in the fifth to seal the game.
• Though the Trailblazers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Game 2 on a bases-loaded walk by first baseman Justina Pardi, the Ephs struck back with four runs in the first inning. MCLA scored again in the second on a single by center fielder/shortstop Madison Teta, but the Ephs continued to pour it on with five second-inning runs, including Kipnis' second home run of the game, to make it 9-2.
• In the bottom of the fifth, pinch hitter Lauren Haywood '25 hit a "walk-off" single to center, scoring first baseman Glickman and ending the game due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Inside the Box Score

• Ramos became the first Eph this season to record a multi-home run game in Game 1, and Kipnis became the second in Game 2. Kipnis hit three home runs on the day, increasing her total to a team-leading eight.
• Mok threw her second complete-game shutout in as many starts in Game 1. Both outings were only five innings long, as the Ephs won by way of the mercy rule both times.
• The Trailblazers left the bases loaded in each of the first two innings of Game 2, and scored only two runs combined those innings. Those were the only runs that MCLA managed in either game.
• With the Game 2 win, the Ephs won their fifth straight game. Their five-game winning streak is their longest of the season.