Visiting Williams (5-0, 5-0) claimed both ends of a doubleheader at Middlebury (1-3, 0-2) on Saturday, posting a 3-0 win in the opening contest and a 4-0 triumph in the nightcap. The three-game series concludes on Sunday, with a single game in Massachusetts at 1:00 p.m.
 
In the first game of the day, Middlebury's Jewel Ashbrook and Williams's Kirstin Mapes were in control from the circle through five innings, keeping the game scoreless. Both pitchers worked their way out of a bases-load jams in the early stages.
 
The Ephs broke through for a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, as Azaria Vargas raced home on a wild pitch and Jenny Hickey drove Rachel Neugart with a ground out.
 
Williams added an insurance run in the seventh when Mara Kipnis lofted a RBI triple to right field, driving in Aly Granados to close out the scoring.
 
For the Panthers, Emily Moore, Noelle Ruschil and Kaylee Gumm each finished with base hits. Ashbrook (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits.
 
Mapes (4-0) scattered three hits for her first shutout of the season with five strikeouts. Kipnis had the lone extra-base hit of the game with her triple and drove in a run.
 
In the second contest, Williams grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on bunt single by Neugart. The Ephs doubled the advantage two batters later on a single to center by Vargas, bringing in Mapes from second for a 2-0 edge.
 
The visitors added two more runs in the fifth with Kipnis factoring in on both scores. She first hit a triple into the gap in right field to plate Taylor Wise, who walked, before scoring on a wild pitch.
 
Middlebury made a push in the home half of the inning, putting runners on the corners via singles by Sophia Marlino and Sophie Bolinger, but Williams's pitcher Maya Hartman muted the threat with a ground out to end the frame. Hartman ended the game retiring the final seven batters she faced for the win.
 
Bolinger and Marlino each picked up a pair of hits for the hosts in three plate appearances, while Moore had a double. Panther pitcher Chloe McNamara (0-2) yielded four runs (two earned) on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Kipnis, Mapes and Vargas paced the Ephs with two hits apiece, with Kipnis adding another triple. Hartman (1-0) notched the shutout, allowing five hits and two strikeouts.