The Middlebury softball team opened up is 2019 season with a pair of NCAA run-rule road victories over the College of New Rochelle (4-2) at Flowers Park. The Panthers took the opener of the doubleheader by an 11-0 score in five innings, before claiming a 13-3 victory in six innings. Middlebury (2-0) returns to action on Sunday with a twinbill at Drew slated to begin at 12:00 p.m.

In the opener, the Panthers scored in every inning, including three runs in the top of the first. Emily Moore produced the first run with a sacrifice fly to center field, while Melanie Mandell scored on a passed ball and Noelle Ruschil had an RBI single down the right-field line.

In the second, the Panther lead grew to 4-0 when Jen McGann blasted a home run to left-center field in her first collegiate at-bat. Middlebury tacked on two runs in the next inning, including a run-scoring single by Ally Doll, while Sophia Marlino touched home on a throwing error.

The Panthers tallied four runs in the top of the fourth for a 10-0 lead, highlighted by a two-run base hit by Ruschil, while McGann tripled in the fifth and scored on a base knock by Moore for the final 11-0 score.

Irene Margiotta faced the minimum 15 batters in the circle for the Panthers, allowing a third-inning single through the left side by Amanda Blair before she was erased on a double play. Margiotta struck out three and didn't allow a walk for the 15th complete game of her career.

Sara Tobias finished the game 3-3 with three runs scored, while McGann was 2-3 with a homer, triple, two runs scored and an RBI. Marlino and Ruschil were both 2-3, while Ruschil had a team-best three RBI.

Trailing 1-0 in the nightcap, the Panthers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second when Marlino homered to right, plating Tobias who led off with a single. The Blue Angels tied the contest at 2-2 in the home half of the second on a Panther fielding miscue.

The Panthers took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth on a Kaylee Gumm single to left, and exploded for seven runs on nine hits in the top of the fifth, highlighted by a two-run double to center from Marlino for a 10-2 lead.

New Rochelle tallied a run in the bottom of the fifth to move to within 10-3, before the Panthers recorded three runs on three hits in the top of the sixth for the final 13-3 score.

McGann picked up her initial collegiate win in the circle for Middlebury, giving up three runs on three hits in five innings. She didn't surrender a walk and struck out three. Margiotta tossed the final inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Marlino went 3-3 with a homer, double, four runs scored and five RBI. Liza Tarr was 3-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, while four other Panthers each had multi-hit games.

Gaby Hay was 2-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI in the second contest for the hosts.