Middlebury (21-8, 8-2) used a number of big innings to take the opening contest of a key three-game NESCAC West series 19-6 at Wesleyan (18-12, 6-4) on Friday. The teams are back on the field on Saturday for a noon doubleheader.

The Panthers have been producing big offensive numbers all season, as Friday's game marked the 13th time this spring they have reached double figures in runs. The team tied a program mark with seven doubles and stole 11 bases, one shy of the school record.

Middlebury started quickly, scoring three times in its initial at-bat. John Collins drove a long single into the right-field corner to score Mitchell Schroeder, while Alec Ritch touched home plate one batter later on a fielder's choice by Jack Stolper. Sammy Smith made it 3-0 when he raced home on a Cardinal throwing error.

The Panthers got back into the scoring column in the third frame, tacking on four more runs. Schroeder started the inning with a double and scored on an outfield miscue, before Ritch and Stolper hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to right field for a 6-0 cushion. Chris Borter made it a seven-run advantage, swiping third base and racing home on error.

After Wesleyan got a run in the home half of the inning when Kyle Sylvester scored on a fielder's choice, Middlebury answered right back with four more runs in the fourth. Beau Root singled to drive in Zip Malley and later crossed the plate on an infield hit by Ritch. Collins made it an 11-1 contest with a two-run double to right field.

The Cardinals closed the difference to 11-4 in the latter half of the frame and added another run in the fifth to make it a six-run difference.

The Panther offense had another big frame in the top half of the sixth, extending the margin to 16-5. Schroeder continued his stellar day at the plate, driving in a run with a base hit and Smith delivered a two-run single to right center for a 14-5 cushion. Collins delivered his fifth RBI of the contest on a ground out, while Lucas Flemming hit a long double to left field to score Borter for a 16-5 advantage.

Wesleyan scored once in the bottom of the sixth with Middlebury countering with a pair in the top half of the seventh to make the score 18-6.

Andrew Ashley hoisted a sac fly to right field in the eight for a 19-6 difference
 
At the plate for the Panthers, Schroeder extended his hitting streak to 16-straight games, as he went 5-5 with four runs scored and two RBI. Ritch extended his streak of reaching base safely to 25 with a 3-5 performance with four runs scored, while Collins went 2-3 with five RBI.

Middlebury starter Alex Rosario (6-1) earned his NESCAC-leading sixth victory on the mound, allowing five runs on five hits in five innings.

For Wesleyan, Ian Appleby (3-3) took the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in two-plus innings of work. Dylan Judd drove in a pair of runs with a base hit and walk.