The fifth-seeded Middlebury softball team mounted a late comeback attempt in the top of the seventh inning, but fell to fourth-seeded Colby 8-5 in the NESCAC Quarterfinal round.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Kristyn Carroll reached on an error and scooted to third on a double by Cate Viola. Carroll raced home for the 1-0 lead on a ball off the bat of Jennifer Westphal.
• The Mules knotted the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame via an RBI groundout by Carissa Cassidy.
• Colby took the lead in the second stanza with six runs on five hits, highlighted by a two-run triple by Erika MacLeod, for a 7-1 advantage.
• Middlebury chipped away at the deficit with a run in the fourth on a single to left-center field by Olivia Fleming to bring home Westphal, who ripped a leadoff double.
• The Panthers pulled within four (7-3) two innings later. Olivia Scholes drew a base on balls. Cailtin Stanley, who pinch ran for Scholes, came home from first on a double into the left-center gap by McKenna Lont.
• Emma Burnham increased the Mules' lead back to five (8-3) in the home half on a sacrifice fly to left field. 
• Middlebury put together its rally in the seventh. Carroll rifled a one-out single to right center and raced home on a double by Viola. Westphal and Fleming forced walks to load the bases with two outs before Lont induced a base on balls to make it an 8-5 contest. The Mules inserted Sophia Meade into the circle, striking out the lone batter she faced for the three-run victory.

NOTES

• With her two runs scored today, Carroll breaks the single-season record for most in a season with 46.
• This marked Middlebury's 14th appearance in the NESCAC Tournament. 
• The programs played for the 27th time overall and third in NESCAC Tournament action.

The Panthers await their NCAA Tournament fate with the at-large selections and the full field to be announced on Monday, May 12.