The Middlebury baseball team split a NESCAC West doubleheader at Amherst on Saturday, with the win in the opening contest clinching a spot in the upcoming NESCAC Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons. The Panthers posted a 2-1 seven-inning triumph in the opener, while falling 6-5 in the second contest that was nine innings. Middlebury (23-10, 7-5) will be the second seed from the West Division in the four-team conference tournament, which begins Friday and will be hosted by Colby. The team's 23 wins this season are the second-best total in program history.

In the first game, Amherst (16-14-1, 6-6) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Chase Henley doubled to center and scored on a base hit to left by Nick Nardone.

Middlebury tied the game in the top of the third, as Hayden Smith singled, stole second and moved to third on a fly out. Andrew Hennings drove him in with a single through the left side to make it 1-1.

The Panthers went on top 2-1 in the fourth with a two-out rally. Alec Ritch singled up the middle and stole second, advancing to third on a throwing error. Phil Bernstein delivered a two-out hit with a single up the middle to plate Ritch.

The hosts got a runner on board with two outs in the ninth inning to bring the winning run to the plate, but Middlebury reliever Andrew Martinson retired the only batter he faced for the save.

Starter Alex Price (4-2) went 6.2 innings, allowing just one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Middlebury had four hits, with Hennings and Bernstein each getting one with a RBI.

On the mound for Amherst, Davis Brown (3-2) took the loss, going five innings with two runs allowed on four hits. Nick Nardone accounted for two of the four hits for the Mammoths.

In the nightcap, the Mammoths scored single runs in each of the first three innings for a 3-0 advantage.

The Panthers got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs. Henry Strmecki came through with a clutch two-run single up the middle, plating both Sam Graf and Ryan Hanrahan to cut the difference to a run (3-2). Two batters later, the visitors took their first lead of the contest, as Andrew Gough singled up the middle to bring home Strmecki and Gray Goolsby.

The Mammoths jumped back in front (5-4) with a pair of runs in the last of the sixth when William Murphy scored on an outfield miscue and Kai Terada-Herzer came home on a balk.

Middlebury tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth, as Alan Guild hit a two-out double to left and scored two batters later on a passed ball.

The hosts won in walk-off fashion in the ninth, loading the bases with nobody out before Severino Simeone singled to left center to plate Nardone.

Brooks Carroll went 2-3 at the plate for the Panthers, while George Goldstein (1-2) took the loss in relief.

For Amherst, Terada-Herzer finished 4-5 and scored twice and Sachin Nambiar (1-1) hurled a scoreless ninth to collect the victory.

Saturday's twinbill also marked the 100th career appearance in a Panther uniform for Justin Han.