The Panther softball team opened up its season in Florida with 10 games over the spring break. In the season-opener against Rivier, Middlebury's opponent scored six runs in the last two innings to break-up a scoreless tie, on its way to a 6-0 win. Senior Katelyn Cannella (Pleasantville, N.Y.) had a single, while senior Brittany Burke (Medfield, Mass.) doubled for the Panthers.
Southern Maine scored seven times in the first inning against Middlebury, only to have the Panthers plate 13 runs over the first three innings to take a lead they would not relinquish. Sophomore Kristin Maletsky (Kinnelon, N.J.) had a homer and four RBI for Middlebury in the game, while first-year player Leslie Crawford (Mount Vernon, Wash.) went 2-2 with two runs and two driven in. Rookies Emily Burbridge (E. Greenwich, R.I.) and Kelsey Chisholm (Lynnfield, Mass.) each had a pair of hits, while Megan Margel (Ridgewood, N.J.) drove in three. First-year pitcher Ali McAnaney (Northbrook, Ill.) earned the win.
Middlebury scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a 16-15 win over Potsdam. Maletsky homered again, driving in four with two runs scored. Chisholm went 3-4 with three RBI, while L. Crawford was 3-3 with three runs scored. Margel drove in three runs, going 2-4 at the dish. Burke picked up the win in relief for the Panthers.
M.I.T. scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on its way to a 5-3 victory over Middlebury. Cannella went 2-4 in the game, first-year player Geena Constantin (Pelham, N.H.) was 2-3, while L. Crawford went 2-2.
The Panthers scored six times in the bottom of the sixth to pick up a 9-2 win over Oberlin. Cannella was 2-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while first-year player Ali McAnaney (Northbrook, Ill.) went 2-4 with two RBI and a triple, while also earning the complete game win with six strikeouts.
Union had a 10-run fourth inning as they picked up a 14-7 win over Middlebury. Maletsky hit her third homer of the trip, while C. Crawford went 4-4. L. Crawford was 2-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Margel had a 2-4 game.
Middlebury bounced back with a 12-2 win over Fredonia, pounding out 19 hits in the victory. Junior Amelia Magistrali (Torrington, Conn.) homered for Middlebury, going 2-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. C. Crawford was 3-3 with two runs scored, while senior Allison Bard (Jenkintown, Pa.) went 3-5 with two driven in and two runs scored. C. Crawford picked up the win, tossing six innings.
Middlebury's bats struggled against Wisconsin-Whitewater, as they were handed a 9-1 loss. Margel went 2-3 in the game to lead the Panther hitters.
Middlebury ended the trip with a two-game split with Colby. In game one, the Mules allowed just two hits (Chisholm & McAnaney) as they picked up the victory. In the second contest, the Panthers struck for seven runs in the first two innings on their way to a 10-9 win. Bard plated Margel (2-5, 3 RBI, 2 runs) with a single to center to win it for the Panthers in extra innings. McAnaney, Bard, Maletsky and rookie Nellie Wood (Hampden, Maine) each had two hits in the game, as Burke picked up the win in relief.
C. Crawford leads the team with a .471 average through 10 games, followed by Canella (.357), Chisholm (.355), Margel (.333) and L. Crawford (.333).
The NESCAC series at Amherst over the weekend was postponed.
