Middlebury blanked Williams 5-0 in game one of a three-game NESCAC West series on Friday evening. The Panthers improve to 10-4 overall and 3-1 in NESCAC West play, while the Ephs, idle since March 31, drop their conference opener and are 8-6 on the season. The teams resume their series, playing a double-header slated for noon at Middlebury.

The Panthers jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning with only one hit. Megan Margel reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Ephs' starter Megan Casey. Middlebury starter Geena Constantin helped her own cause earning a walk, as Margel raced to third on another wild pitch by Casey. After Constantin stole second, Alyson Downing knocked in Margel with an RBI single to left, pushing Constantin to third. Later, on a throw down to second on a steal by Downing, Constantin scored as the late throw from home got away from the shortstop.

Constantin was strong in the circle. After allowing a first inning walk, she retired the next 11 Williams batters, five by strike out. The Ephs' Mary Beth Daub broke the streak, lacing a one-out double to dead center in the fifth inning. Daub worked her way to third, but was stranded, ending the threat.

RBI singles by Leslie Crawford in the fourth and Emily Burbridge in the fifth gave Middlebury a 4-0 lead before Jessa Hoffman lined a deep double to left for an RBI in the sixth for a 5-0 lead.

In the seventh, Panther reliever Elizabeth Morris got the first two outs, before allowing a pair of Williams batters to reach base, but enticed Amanda Correnti into a game-ending infield groundout.

Crawford was a sharp 3-3 from the plate for Middlebury, adding an RBI. Alyson Downing went 2-3 with an RBI, while Hoffman added a double and RBI on a 1-2 day in the leadoff spot. Constantin (3-1) pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, while scoring a pair of runs herself on offense. Morris pitched two innings in relief, allowing one hit.

Daub's big double highlighted Williams' three hits, as Casey (6-2) suffered the setback in the circle. Casey allowed five runs, three earned, walked four and threw five wild pitches, advancing Panther into scoring position each time.

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