Box Score Williams came back from a 5-0 deficit to pick up a 7-6 win over Middlebury (13-8, 2-4) in game one of a NESCAC West series on Friday afternoon in Massachusetts. The 19th-ranked Ephs (24-6, 7-3) and Panthers return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon. The loss snapped the visitor's six-game winning streak.
Middlebury jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the second inning. Melanie Mandell singled up the middle to get things going, before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Liza Tarr. Kaylee Gumm drew a walk to put runners on first and second for Taylor Gardner, who belted a three-run shot to left.
The lead grew to 5-0 in the fourth, as the inning starting the same way as the second as Mandell singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Tarr. One batter later, Gardner walked and Ali Della Volpe singled to left center to drive in Mandell. Olivia Bravo followed with a base hit to second, as Gardner came around to score for the 5-0 advantage.
Williams answered in the bottom of the inning with a grand slam to center by Casey Pelz, cutting the lead to 5-4.
The Ephs went on top 6-5 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Jessica Kim doubled and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Mackenzie Murphy. Lexi Curt, who had singled to left, later scored on a throwing error.
The Panthers knotted the game at 6-6 in the top of the sixth. Della Volpe ripped a one-out triple to right center and scored two batters later when Emily Moore singled through the right side.
Curt hit a one-out double down the right-field line in the seventh and was replaced by a pinch runner. One batter later with two outs, Rebecca Duncan singled to right center to drive in the winning run.
Emily Morris (6-6) suffered the loss in relief, giving up three runs, two earned, and four hits over three innings with four strikeouts. Mandell went 3-4 with two runs scored, while Gardner was 1-2 with a homer and three RBI.
Mackenzie Murphy improved to 9-1 with the complete-game win, giving up six runs and nine hits with six strikeouts. Pelz went 2-3 with a homer and four RBI, while Curt had a 2-4 game, including a double and a run scored.
