The Middlebury softball team hit three home runs, as the Panthers came away with a doubleheader split at NESCAC West opponent Hamilton (14-8, 2-4) on Friday. Middlebury (12-8, 4-4) won the opener 6-2 and overcame a late five-run deficit, dropping the nightcap 6-5. The teams conclude the three-game series on Saturday at noon.
The visitors came out swinging, as Abby Santis led off the contest by drilling an 0-2 pitch to deep left-center field for her third home run of the season. Megan Fox gave Middlebury a 2-0 edge later in the frame, with a single down the foul line in left field to drive in Noelle Ruschil.
The Panthers tacked on a run in the third stanza, as Ruschil laced her NESCAC-leading ninth home run to left field for a 3-0 cushion.
The advantage grew to 4-0 in the fifth with an unearned tally. Jordyn Johnson reached on an outfield error and raced home on a sacrifice fly by Santis.
Hamilton scored a pair of unearned runs in the fifth to cut the margin in half (4-2), but another homer by Middlebury in the sixth restored the four-run lead. Tori Papaleo hit a blast to center field for her first home run of the season.
Panther pitcher Jewel Ashbrook closed the door on any hopes the Continentals had of a rally, retiring five of the last six batters she faced. Ashbrook (7-3) tossed her sixth complete game of the season, yielding two unearned runs on eight hits.
Ruschil paced the visitors at the plate going 3-4 with a triple and home run, while Johnson went 2-3 with a pair of stolen bases.
Middlebury has already hit 19 home runs this season, which ranks second on the single-season list.Â
Emma Tansky led Hamilton at the plate going 3-4, while Natalie Beebe (9-3) went the distance and took the loss in the circle.
The second game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third when the hosts broke through with five runs. Alessandra Priante opened the scoring with a two-run single and Ella Heftved made it 4-0, driving in a pair of runners with a double. The Continentals made it 5-0 scoring on a ground out by Shelby McVey.
Middlebury got the bases loaded in the top of the fourth on singles by Fox and Papaleo along with a walk by Johnson, but Tansky pitched her way out of the jam to protect Hamilton's lead.
The Panthers stormed back in the top of the sixth, knotting the score at 5-5. Johnson dropped a base hit into left field to make it 5-2 and scored one batter later on a single by Santis. Jen McGann tied the game with a two-run double, bringing home Santis and Ruschil.
Hamilton won the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh, as Kiara Arcayena doubled in Charlie Quinn for the 6-5 decision.
Ruschil, McGann and Fox each finished with a pair of hits at the plate for the Panthers. Abigail Jankowski (1-2) yielded only one run in 3.1 innings of relief but took the loss.
Heftved had a big game for the Continentals, finishing 3-4 with two RBI and a pair of runs. Beebe (10-3) earned the win in relief, giving up one hit in 1.1 innings.
