The Middlebury softball team (6-10) swept a pair of games against Hamilton (6-7) in its season finale at home on Saturday. The Panthers edged the Continentals 3-2 in the opening game, before cruising to a 6-1 victory in the night cap.

Hamilton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Samantha Smith reached on a fielding error, advanced to second and later scampered home on a wild pitch. Noelle Ruschil knotted the game 1-1 with a lead-off homer in Middlbury's half of the inning.

The Continentals responded in the top of the fifth. Vicky Dunn bunted, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and crossed home plate on an error, making it 2-1. Kaylee Gumm hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth, evening the score at two runs apiece.  Ruschil walked to start the bottom of the sixth for Middlebury. Kate Likhite pinch ran and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jen McGann. A double to left center by Melanie Mandell drove home Likhite for the 3-2 edge. The Panthers held the Continentals in the seventh to earn the victory.

Middlebury's Jewel Ashbrook (4-5) earned the win in the circle, allowing no earned runs on five hits, while striking out two. Mandell went 2-3 with a double and an RBI, while Gumm and Ruschil each went 1-2 with a homer and an RBI.

Hamilton's Nicole Beebe (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out seven. Katlynn McGivney went 1-1 pinch hitting, and Smith went 1-2 with one run scored.

The Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the first in game two. Emily Moore walked, Mandell reached first on a fielding error and advanced to second, before Moore touched home on a sacrifice fly by Ruschil.

In the next inning, Middlebury increased its lead to 4-0. McGann walked, Sophia Marlino reached on a bunt single, and Abby Santis reached on a field error. After a pair of outs, McGann touched home on a wild pitch, before a double to center by Sophie Bolinger drove home Santis and Marlino.

The Panthers added a run in their next at-bat when Mandell scored on a double by Marlino.

Middlebury tacked on its final score in the bottom of the fifth when Lizzie Hannafey scampered home on a sacrifice fly by Marlino.

Hamilton broke up the shutout with a run in the seventh for the 6-1 final.  

Chloe McNamara (2-5) earned the win for the Panthers allowing just one. Marlino was a perfect 2-2 at the plate with one run scored and two RBI. Megan Fox went 1-1 pinch hitting, and Bolinger had a double.

Hamilton's Claire O'Brien (1-4) took the loss in the circle, striking out six over six innings. Kiana Arcayena and Anna Rasmussen and Dunn each went 2-3, while Rasmussen and Dunn recorded a double each.