The Middlebury softball team continued its spring trip on Monday, splitting a pair of contests. The Panthers (4-1) never trailed in a 7-4 triumph over Washington and Jefferson, while falling to Kalamazoo by the score of 4-2. The team returns to the diamond with a pair of games on Wednesday, taking on UW-Whitewater at 9:15 a.m., followed by the University of Chicago at 11:15 a.m.
Pitching set the tone early in the game with Washington and Jefferson with Middlebury's Jewel Ashbrook keeping the Presidents without a base hit until the third inning. She did get into a two-out jam with the bases loaded to end that inning, striking out Mackenzie Boyd to keep the game scoreless.
In the latter half of the frame, the Panthers broke through for three runs, starting with an Abby Santis double to center field to drive in Jen McGann and Sophie Bolinger. Santis touched the plate two batters later for a 3-0 cushion when Nina Schroeder singled to right field.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Middlebury tacked on a fourth run, as Bolinger walked and later scored when Sophia Marlino's grounder to the right side was mishandled.
The Panthers capped off their scoring with another three-run stanza in the sixth. Santis made it 5-0 with an RBI single to center field, while an outfield error pushed the margin to 7-0.
In the top of the seventh, Washington and Jefferson scored four times to close the gap, making the final tally 7-4.
Santis finished the game going 2-4, scoring twice and driving in three runs, while Bolinger reached base three times with a hit, two walks and scored three times.
Ashbrook (2-0) tossed a complete game, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits.
In the second game of the day, the Hornets tallied a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first and increased the difference to 3-0 with a run in the second frame.
Kalamazoo increased the advantage to 4-0 the last of the fourth, but the Panthers broke through for a run in their next at-bat. Ashbrook led off the inning with a single and scored when Noelle Ruschil was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Middlebury trimmed another run off the deficit in the sixth inning, as Megan Fox doubled to drive in Marlino.
The Panthers had a chance in their final at-bat, getting the bases loaded with one out, but Hornet relief pitcher Lizzy Rottenberk was able to get out of the jam to earn the save.
Jordyn Johnson went 2-2 at the plate for Middlebury, while Fox drove in a run with a double. Samantha Hausman (2-1) took the loss for the Panthers.
Lucy Hart paced Kalamazoo, going 2-3 with two RBI, while starting pitcher (4-1) earned the win in the circle, allowing one run in five innings of work.
