NORTON, Mass. -- Sophomore starting pitcher Sofia Knopf (Norton, Mass.) allowed just one run on two hits and first year center fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) collected four hits to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team to a 5-1 victory and a sweep over visiting Smith College in a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader this afternoon on the Clark Softball Field. The Lyons improve to 15-11 overall and 6-4 in league play, while the Pioneers fall to 9-16 and 4-6.

Zito was 4-4 with a double and two runs scored in game two for Wheaton, while senior shortstop Katelyn Barton (Andover, N.H.) was 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Knopf was outstanding for the home team, striking out six in seven complete innings to improve to 3-3 on the season.

First year shortstop Piper Corey (Phoenix, Ariz.) paced the Pioneers at the plate, going 1-3 with a double and a run batted in and senior right fielder Claire Lord (Jupiter, Fla.) was 1-2. Sophomore starter Maegan Osmond (Weston, Fla.) (3-6) took the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in a third of an inning.

The Lyons rapped out 14 hits and scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead for good, before adding single runs in the second, fourth and fifth frames.

Zito smacked a leadoff double to left center and later came around to score on a single through the left side off the bat of Barton to tie the game at 1-1. Sophomore first base Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) followed with a double to left to bring home Barton for a 2-1 Wheaton edge.

The Lyons tacked on a run in the second to increase their margin to 3-1. Sophomore left fielder Allison Weston (West Islip, N.Y.) and Zito each singled ahead of sophomore second base Bryanna Agan (Averill Park, N.Y.), who singled to center field to plate Weston with Wheaton's third run.

The Lyons strung together three straight hits in the fifth that also led to another run. Zito reached on an infield single to shortstop, Agan singled down the right field line and Barton ripped a single up the middle to score Zito for a 4-1 lead.

Wheaton capped the scoring with the game's final run in the fifth after first year right fielder Jillian Rohon (Southington, Conn.) led off the frame with a single up the middle and later scored on a single through the right side off the bat of Knopf to help her own cause.

Smith wasted no time getting on the board to take a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning. Junior Molly Taketa (Redmond, Wash.) was hit by a pitch to open the frame and one out later Corey doubled to the left center gap to bring home the Pioneers' only run. Knopf was able to retire two of the next three batters to squelch the offense for Smith.

The Lyons return to play on Tuesday, April 19 when host Lesley University for a twinbill at 3:30 p.m. on the Clark Softball Field, while the Pioneers head to Chicopee, Mass. to take on Elms College in doubleheader action on the same day at 2:00 p.m.