The Middlebury softball team capped its efforts at THE Spring Games with wins over Luther (5-3) and Augustana (3-2) on Friday. Kristyn Carroll became the program's all-time leader in career hits in the squad's final contest against the Vikings.

HIGHLIGHTS VS. LUTHER

• The Norse came within 60 feet of scoring in their first opportunity with the bats. Mya Larsen walked and Madi Urfer was plunked before both runners advanced on a groundout. Panther pitcher Emily Dowd induced a popout and flyout to strand the pair.
• Middlebury jumped ahead during the top of the second inning. Olivia Fleming logged a base hit and advanced to third on a Luther miscue. Jen Westphal put the ball in play to score Fleming, manufacturing a 1-0 advantage.
• The navy and white added to the margin in the third. Carroll and Olivia Scholes posted consecutive singles with one down and Reagan Adiletta drew a walk to load the bases later in the order. Fleming lifted a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Carroll to dash home and Katelyn Mikros finalized the frame with a two-run triple into right center that made it a 4-0 contest.
• Larsen opened another Luther rally in the bottom half, drawing a one-out base on balls before swiping second. Urfer trotted to first with a walk and Raven Allen dished a two-RBI three-bagger to right, trimming the deficit to 4-2.
• The Panthers picked up a key insurance run during the fifth. Fleming got to first on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a passed ball. Mikros came through with a run-scoring double into left field for a 5-2 contest.
• Luther added a third tally during a seventh-inning comeback bid, but Dowd slammed the door to earn the two-run victory.

HIGHLIGHTS VS. AUGUSTANA

• The navy and white tallied their first runs in their initial at-bats. Carroll laced a three-bagger to right-center field before Scholes plated her on an unsuccessful fielder's choice. Westphal dealt a double to the left-center gap to score Scholes from first, establishing a 2-0 edge.
• The Vikings opened the third stanza with consecutive singles, but McKenna Lont fanned the ensuing batter and recorded a flyout and groundout to stonewall the scoring chance.
• Middlebury extended its lead in the bottom half. Scholes again reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a Westphal base hit. Mikros drew a free pass to load the bases for Livy Schultz, who guided Scholes home with a run-scoring base knock to left-center for a 3-0 ballgame.
• Augustana pushed its first player across during the fifth, commencing the session with consecutive infield hits from A'rion Lonergan and Emma Schmidt before both advanced on a wild pitch. Madi Bickell tallied a sacrifice fly to center one out later to cut the deficit to 3-1.
• The Panthers nearly answered an inning later. Mikros and Schultz led off with singles before moving up a bag on a wild pitch. Sarah LaFond entered as a pinch hitter and worked a walk to load the bases, but Viking pitcher Mya Brown induced a pair of popouts to escape the jam.
• Augustana trimmed the lead to one in the seventh when Alaina Diaz tallied an RBI single to left field. With the game-tying run standing on third, Lont weathered the storm with a lineout to second base to secure the 3-2 triumph.

NOTES

• Carroll rewrote the career hits record of 188 established by Middlebury Athletics Hall of Famer Jessa Hoffman '13. The senior touts 190 following Friday's action.
• Mikros enjoyed a 4-for-6 day and drove in three runs across the two games.
• Dowd improved to 5-0 in the circle with her third complete game of the campaign against the Norse, while Lont also earned her fifth consecutive win by going the distance against Augustana.
• The squad's 15-1 mark is the best record through 16 games in program history.
• The Panthers earned their first win in the series against Luther and improved to 2-0 all-time against the Vikings.

Middlebury returns from spring break to face Keene State in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 1. The contest begins at 3:00 p.m.