The Middlebury softball team opened its season with a pair of victories over Clarkson on Thursday. The Panthers defeated the Golden Knights 3-1 in game one before tallying a 5-1 triumph in the nightcap.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury jumped on the scoreboard in the home half of the first inning. Kristyn Carroll led off with a double, while McKenna Lont followed by reaching on a fielder's choice. After Lont advanced to second on a wild pitch, Olivia Scholes scorched a double to right center to plate Carroll and Lont for a 2-0 lead.
• The Panthers tacked on another run in the first with Scholes scoring on an RBI groundout from Jennifer Westphal to make it 3-0.
• Clarkson looked to cut into the deficit in the top of the third inning, but Karyssa Parker was called out at home when Westphal hustled to the backstop and threw a dart to pitcher Samantha Hausman for the tag out.  
• In the top of the fourth, Devin Fitzpatrick launched a home run over the left center wall to cut the Panther advantage to 3-1.
• Middlebury looked to build on its lead in the bottom half by loading the bases with one out, but the Golden Knights recorded back-to-back fielder's choice plays to keep the Panthers at bay.
• The Panthers threatened to tack on another tally in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Carroll singled down the left line, and stole second and third, but the Golden Knights recorded the final out as Middlebury claimed the 3-1 triumph.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• Clarkson got on the board first, tallying its lone run on an RBI single from Zoey Kovach.
• The Panthers tied the contest in the bottom of the second. Westphal doubled, stole third, and eventually scampered home on a Golden Knight throwing miscue. 
• Clarkson started the third inning with a leadoff walk by Haspil followed by a double to left center from Kovach, but the Panthers recorded three-straight outs to keep the Golden Knights off the board.
• Middlebury broke the tie in its half of the inning. With runners on second and third with two outs, Corcoran poked an RBI single through the left side to take a 2-1 lead. The Panthers tacked on another run with Westphal crossed the plate on a throwing error for the 3-1 advantage.
• The Panthers added a pair of runs in the home half of the inning with Carroll scoring on an error by the catcher and Olivia Fleming drawing a bases-loaded walk for a 5-1 advantage.
• Clarkson put the pressure on in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, bringing the game-tying run to the plate. Reliever Emily Ye finished the job for the Panthers as Greco flew out to center field to seal the 5-1 victory.

NOTES

• Hausman put together a solid outing in game one, allowing just one walk and striking out eight batters for the complete-game win.
• Carroll went 3-of-6 over the two contests with three hits and five stolen bases. Her two walks propelled her to fifth all-time with 44.
• Ye earned her first save in her initial appearance in the circle.
• Middlebury and Clarkson met for just the third and fourth time. 

The Panthers host Vermont State University Castleton in a doubleheader on Monday beginning at 3:30 p.m.