NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Smith College softball team scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to complete a 10-9 comeback victory over visiting Wheaton College (Mass.) this afternoon at the Smith College Softball Field in Northampton, Mass.

The game had been suspended prior to the start of the bottom of the fourth due to rainfall the day before and was resumed this afternoon in Northampton.

The Lyons dip to 17-9 overall and 7-3 in league play, while the Pioneers improve to 9-15 and 2-6.

Wheaton scored four runs in both the first and second innings and added a single run in the top of the third to take a 9-2 advantage. Smith chipped away with two runs in the third and scored three times when play resumed in the fourth to pull to within 9-7. The Pioneers knotted the game at 9-9, before scoring a run in the seventh for a walk-off win.

Sophomore center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) paced the Lyons at the plate, going 2-4 with two runs scored and a pair of runs batted in, while junior shortstop Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) was a perfect 4-4 with a run batted in and a run scored. First year first base Lily Platt Hallowell, N.Y.) was 1-2 with two RBI and junior second base Bryanna Agan (Averill Park, N.Y.) turned in a 3-4 effort with a walk and two runs scored. First year starting pitcher Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.) made two appearances in the circle in the same game, but on different days for Wheaton as the starter and then the final pitcher in relief. She was saddled with the loss to dip to 7-4 after giving up two runs on two hits and three walks to go with a strikeout in two and a third innings pitched.

First year left fielder Elinor Washington (Sacramento, Calif.) led Smith, going 2-3 with a double and three runs batted in to go with a walk and junior catcher Cece Alaniz (Bakersfield, Calif.) knocked in two runs with a single and a double in three at-bats. Junior first base Juno Shantz (Seattle, Wash.) reached base three times with a single and two walks and scored all three times she was on base for the Pioneers. Junior starting pitcher Abigail Fletcher (Bethany, Conn.) earned the win to raise her record to 4-4 after seven innings of relief that saw her allow five runs (three earned) on 12 hits and a walk to go with a pair of strikeouts.

First year shortstop Riley Austin (San Jose, Calif.) opened the bottom of the seventh with a single to left field for Smith. Junior third base Madison Swain (Temecula, Calif.) put down a sacrifice bunt to follow and was out on the play. Austin wasn't satisfied with stopping at second and looked to take an extra base on the play, but the throw across the diamond from first got away and Austin scored to complete the Pioneers comeback from being down seven runs.

Wheaton took an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first. The Lyons loaded the bases to start the frame after sophomore Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) and Agan were each issued walks and Oliveira reached on an infield single. Sophomore right fielder Jillian Rohon (Southington, Conn.) worked the third walk of the inning in a span of four batters to force in the first run of the contest. DiBacco reached on a fielder's choice to knock in another run and Platt followed with an RBI single to give the visitors a 3-0 margin. DiBacco scored the fourth run of the frame on the front end of a double-steal.

Wheaton loaded the bases in the second, as well, as part of another four-run inning. Agan, Oliveira and Rohon registered consecutive singles with one out to set up DiBacco for an infield hit that resulted in Agan scoring the Lyons' fifth run. Platt followed with a sacrifice fly and junior left fielder Allison Weston (West Islip, N.Y.) reached on an error to score two more runs and give Wheaton an eight-run advantage. 

Smith got two runs back in the bottom of the inning to cut the margin to 8-2. The Pioneers took a cue from their guests and loaded the bases with three straight bases on balls issued to junior Lucy Helms (Alameda, Calif.), sophomore Taylor Ang (San Diego, Calif.) and Washington to open the frame. One out later, Swain reached on a fielder's choice to plate the home team's first run before junior Maegan Osmond (Weston, Fla.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center to knock in the second run of the frame.

The Lyons added another run in the third with two outs to take a 9-2 lead. Zito smacked a two-out double to left field and Agan singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Oliveira came through with a single to right field to bring Zito around to score.

Smith answered again in its half of the inning with two more runs to pull to within 9-4. Washington singled home a run and another Pioneer run came across when Austin reached on a throwing error. 

Play was halted at this point because of the rain, but when the action resumed this afternoon, Smith came out swinging with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to close to within 9-7. The first three Pioneers all reached to load the bases with no outs. Osmond opened the frame by being hit by a pitch and junior Lexi Balam (Lyndeborough, N.H.) and Shantz each drew a walk, before Alaniz singled down the line to bring home Osmond. Wheaton got the next two outs, but Washington struck a double to left to plate two more runs and make it a two-run game.

The Lyons put a runner on third base in each of the next two innings, but were unable to push another run across. Smith continued its march with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 9-9. Shantz worked a one-out walk before Alaniz came through with an RBI double to left and Helms followed with a single to right to knock in Alaniz with the equalizer.

Wheaton returns to action on Tuesday, April 18 when it hosts Lesley University for a twinbill on the Clark Softball Field at 3:00 p.m., while the Pioneers host Elms College on the same day and time.