Middlebury took game one of a key NESCAC West series with Wesleyan by a final score of 5-0. The teams return to action on Saturday at noon with a doubleheader, with the winner of the three-game series advancing to next weekend's NESCAC Tournament.

Middlebury struck for four runs in the third inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. Megan Margel delivered the big blow, blasting a two-run double to plate Jessica Hoffman, Emily Burbridge and Kira Gordon. Margel advanced to third on a fly out from Jessica Poracky, before scoring on an RBI double from Geena Constantin.

Middlebury added a run in the fourth, as Gordon singled and later moved to second on a ground out. Poracky plated Gordon with an RBI single to make it a 5-0 game.

Constantin was cruising on the rubber for the Panthers, facing just three batters over the minimum in the game. The junior allowed just one hit in the game, striking out four while retiring 11 straight through the middle innings.

Gordon finished the day 2-4 with two runs scored, Hoffman was 2-4 with a double, while Poracky went 2-4 with an RBI.

Meaghan Dendy singled for Wesleyan, while taking the loss with five runs and 10 hits given up over six innings of work.

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