Middlebury improved to 5-4 in NESCAC play, while Hamilton fell to 0-6 as they Panthers swept games two and three today of a three-game series. The Panthers pounded out 29 hits and scored 29 runs en route to 19-1 and 10-2 victories over the Continentals.
In game one, the Panther offense exploded for 18 runs in the game's first four innings on its way to the win. An RBI triple by Noah Walker and a two-run double from Dev Talvadkar gave Middlebury a 3-0 lead after one inning. Talvadkar struck again in the second inning with a two-run single to make it a 7-0 game after two innings. The seven-run third inning saw RBI hits from Dom DiDomenico, Ryan Armstrong, John Lanahan, and a two-run single by Nick Lefeber. Middlebury added four runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to earn the win. An RBI single by Rob Bessette accounted for the Hamilton run in the sixth inning.
David Riester earned the win, allowing one earned run and seven hits, while striking out five over six innings of work. Bryden Considine suffered the loss, giving up seven runs, three earned, over two innings.
Talvadkar ended the game 3-3 with two runs scored and five RBI, while Lefeber, Armstrong and DiDomenico each had a pair of hits. Matt Hartnett had two singles to pace Hamilton.
Middlebury had a constant supply of offense in game two when they scored in six of eight innings to earn a 10-2 win. RBI singles in the first and second by Walker gave Middlebury a 3-0 lead after three innings. The Panthers struck for three runs in the fourth innings, with RBI singles from DiDomenico and Riester to take a 6-0 lead. Patrick Suarez earned an RBI double in the fifth to put Hamilton on the board, before Middlebury answered with a pair in the bottom of the inning. DiDomenico had an RBI double to drive in his second run of the game in the inning. The Panthers added solo runs in the sixth and seventh, while Hamilton scored in the ninth to make it a 10-2 final.
Russ Budnick earned the win on the mound, allowing one run on three hits over seven innings, while striking out eight batters. James Matthews took the loss for the Continentals.
Riester, Walker and Liam Quinn each had three hits in game two, while Sam Timberg, LaFeber and DiDomenico had two hits apiece. Suarez and James Nolan each had a double for Hamilton.
