The Middlebury softball team dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker in game three of a NESCAC West series at Williams on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers (1-4, 0-3) return to action next Saturday with a doubleheader at Wesleyan beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Middlebury scored early with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Sophie Bolinger led off with a walk and moved to second when Sophia Marlino did the same. One batter later, Noelle Rushcil singled to right to load the bases. Melanie Mandell followed, ripping a single to left center to plate both Bolinger and Marlino for the 2-0 edge.

Williams (6-0, 6-0) loaded the bases in the third inning, but Jewel Ashbrook worked out of the jam to keep the Ephs off the board.

Williams tied the game with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Gabi Cirigliano put the home team on the board with a solo homer to right. Dacia Green later singled up the middle to plate Kirstin Mapes, who reached on a base hit to right field.

Middlebury answered in the seventh as Jen McGann singled to center with one out. She advanced to second on a wild pitch, before crossing the plate when Mandell belted a double to left center.

Trailing by one (3-2) in the seventh, Williams' Tayler Wise reached with a one-out single. Mara Kipnis followed with a base hit, before Ciriglian singled to left field, driving in Wise to knot the game at 3-3. Mapes drove in the winning run in walk-off fashion when she plated Kipnis with a base hit to left field.

Ashbrook (1-2), who was very strong early, suffered the loss with 6.1 innings of work. Mandell finished 2-4 with a double and three RBI, with singles from McGann and Ruschil.

Madison Mok (1-0) earned the win in relief for Williams, throwing 3.2 innings. Ciriglian finished 2-4 with a homer and two RBI, while Kipnis and Mapes each had a pair of hits.