Fresh off a NESCAC West series victory over Amherst, the Middlebury baseball team returned to action on Sunday with a pair of games at Curry. The Panthers took game one 2-0 and fell 6-5 in the nightcap. Next up for Middlebury (6-10) is its home opener, set for Friday at 4:00 p.m. at Forbes Field against NESCAC West opponent Hamilton.

The visitors jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the initial inning of the opening contest when Brooks Carroll singled and stole second, before scoring on a double to right field by Sam Graf.

The Panthers plated their second run of the game in the sixth, as Gray Goolsby singled to center and later scored on another double to right by Graf.

Middlebury pitcher Andrew Martinson (1-1) picked up his first career win, allowing one hit over five innings of work with four strikeouts. Conor Himstead tossed a scoreless perfect seventh inning for his first save of the season, while Jake Stalcup also pitched a scoreless inning.

Carroll and Jason Lock both went 2-4 at the plate for the Panthers, while Justin Han was 2-3 and Graf finished 2-2 with a pair of doubles and two RBI.

Curry's Brian Burke (1-4) suffered the loss, giving up nine hits and two runs over 5.1 innings of work. Justin Cage earned both hits for the Colonels (6-11), going 2-3 at the dish.

In game two, Middlebury again got on the board first as Phil Bernstein singled up the middle and advanced on a passed ball in the second inning. Two batters later, Ryan Rizzo singled to center field to drive in the game's first run.

Curry tied the game in the bottom of the second, before taking a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

The Panthers went back on top in the fifth when Carroll and Lock hit back-to-back singles, before Kevin Woodring drove in Carroll with a base hit to left field. Two batters later, Lock scored on a groundout by Bernstein.

The Colonels knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom half of the inning when a run crossed the plate on a double play.

Curry added another run in the last of the sixth inning for a 4-3 lead, but Middlebury fought back to take the lead in its final at bat. Raj Palekar came through with the clutch pinch-hit two-run double to center field, plating Han and John Tipps for a 5-4 lead.

The hosts came right back in their half of the inning with two runs, earning the walk-off victory. John Cave and Alex McLean each scored on an infield miscue by the Panthers for the 6-5 final.

Lock went 2-3 in the contest, finishing the day with four hits, while Carroll was 2-4. Robert Erickson got the start for Middlebury and didn't get a decision, allowing two earned runs in five innings of work. Dylan Takamori (1-1) took the loss for the Panthers in one-plus innings of relief work.

Cave, Tyler Jenkins and McLean were both 2-3 at the plate for the Colonels and Cave also scored twice. McLean got the start on the mound, going five innings with six strikeouts, while allowing three runs (two earned). James Mello (1-0) collected in one inning of relief.