Middlebury lost the opening game of a NESCAC West series to visiting Amherst 3-2. The Panthers had the tying run on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but could not plate the runner on either occasion. Middlebury (15-7, 5-4) return on Saturday against the Jeffs (13-8, 3-3) in a twin-bill scheduled to start at noon.

Amherst jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Brianna Cook opened the frame with an infield single as Nicolette Miranda pushed her to second on a walk. A single to right by Caroline Sealander scored Cook, as Miranda raced to third base. Alena Sherwill followed with a towering sacrifice fly to left, allowing Miranda to jog home for the 2-0 advantage.

Middlebury got one run back in the third. After Kat Maehr reached on an error with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Carlyn Vachow knocked her in with a two-out RBI single down the right field line.

Amherst got a key insurance run during a two-out rally in the fifth inning. With a runner on first, Donna Leet singled. Ally Kido followed with a seeing-eye infield hit that was booted for an error that scored a run. The Jeffs later loaded the bases with a bunt single by Cook, but Panther hurler Allison Quigley got out of the jam with a fly-out to left.

Trailing 3-1, Middlebury scored another run in the sixth, After a one-out double by Erin Giles, she was put out on a 6-5-2-6 fielder's choice on a ball hit by Emma Hamilton, but Hamilton smartly reached second during the run-down. Hye-Jin Kim plated Hamilton with a two-out RBI single through the left side to make it a 3-2 game.

After Quigley sent the Jeffs down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, Christina Bicks opened the bottom of the inning with a bunt single. A passed ball during Siobhan O'Sullivan's at-bat got Bicks to second. O'Sullivan nearly ended the game in dramatic, walk-off fashion, but her 1-2 smash down the left field line went just a couple feet wide of the foul pole. Amherst's starting pitcher Jackie Buechler battled with O'Sullivan, as the lefty hurler tossed a number of pitches that O'Sullivan fouled off before striking out swinging. After a fly-out to right, Buechler got her seventh strike out to end the game.

Seelander, Cook and Kido had two singles apiece for Amherst. Buechler (6-5) went the distance for the win, allowing one earned run over seven innings and struck out seven.

Kim finished 2-3 from the dish, including a triple and an RBI. Maehr added two singles and a run scored, while Giles has the other extra-base hit, a double, in the sixth inning. Quigley (10-3) gave up all three earned runs and struck out four Jeffs in seven frames.