Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Middlebury and Hamilton split a NESCAC West doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, with the Panthers (16-9, 7-2) taking game one 1-0, before the Continentals (8-18, 2-7) returned the favor by the same score in the nightcap. Middlebury will play at Plymouth State on Tuesday before heading to Williams for a three-game series on Friday and Saturday. The winner of that series will clinch the top seed for the upcoming NESCAC Tournament and will host the event May 2-4.
In game one, Neve Stearns (4-3) tossed her first complete-game shutout, leading the Panthers to a 1-0 victory. The hurler allowed just four hits, while striking out six over seven innings of work.
Hamilton threatened in the first, as Olivia Gozdz singled, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Sam Miller followed with a walk, but the runners were stranded on the corners when Stearns was able to induce an infield pop-up.
Middlebury's Sarah Freyre hit a stand-up double in the second, but was stranded. Hamilton looked to get on the board in the fifth, with back-to-back singles from Jenn Rougeux and Hannah Staab, but Stearns struck out the final two batters of the inning to leave the duo on base.
The game's lone run came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Kelsey Martel reached on an error and was bunted to second by Alex Scibetta. Christina Bicks followed with a single up the middle to plate Martel, giving Middlebury a 1-0 lead.
The Continentals went one, two, three in the sixth and seventh as the Panthers secured the victory.
Emily Kraytenberg was the lone player with multiple hits in the game, going 2-3. Kelly Leonard (3-11) suffered the loss, allowing an unearned run and five hits over six innings with seven strikeouts.
The second contest saw Middlebury pitcher Elizabeth Morris improve on her school-record strikeout number by recording her 300th to end the first inning.
Freyre doubled to right with two outs in the first inning and sixth innings, but as in game one, she was stranded.
The Continentals scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning when Miller reached on an error. She was later put out on a fielder's choice as Sarah Moore reached. One batter later, Monique St. Jarre doubled to left center to drive in Moore for an unearned run.
Hamilton looked to add to its lead in the sixth, but Moore was left at third after a two-out triple to right center.
Looking to tie the game up, Carlyn Vachow led off the seventh for Middlebury with a single up the middle. She was bunted to second by Emily Smith, but stranded there as the next two batters were retired.
Leonard, who threw all 14 innings on Saturday, improved to 4-11 with the victory. She allowed five hits and struck out four batters. Moore finished 2-3 with a triple to pace the Continentals.
Morris (6-2) threw a gem for Middlebury, striking out 10 batters and allowing five hits with one unearned run. She now has a program-best 309 career K's. Freyre and Vachow each had a pair of hits for the Panthers, including a pair of doubles from Freyre.
