The Middlebury softball team swept its first NESCAC doubleheader of the spring, earning 3-2 and 4-1 triumphs on Friday over Hamilton.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• With one away in the home half of the second inning, Reagan Adiletta powered a double down the left-field line and rounded third on an ensuing base knock from Katelyn Mikros. Continental Jess Chieco's throw from right bounced to the plate in time for Kelsey Vadnais to apply the tag and stall the scoring chance.
• The visitors moved in front in the fourth. Alexis Mayer dropped a base hit into right field and moved up two bags on a Panther miscue. With the bases loaded later in the frame, Chieco pushed an RBI single through the right side. Nikki Dyche scored on a wild pitch after drawing a free pass to give the guests a 2-0 advantage.
• Kristyn Carroll led off the bottom half with a walk before swiping second and advancing to third on a groundout. Olivia Fleming drew a base on balls and stole second before Adiletta put a ball in play that plated Carroll before darting home on a throwing error later in the inning to knot the tilt at 2-2.
• The hosts nabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Carroll kickstarted the rally with a two-out seeing-eye single up the middle before Jen Westphal uncorked a double to the right-center gap that scored her from first.
• Hamilton applied pressure in the top of the sixth, putting runners on the corners with two away. Vadnais smacked a hard-hit ball to third that McKenna Lont picked on a hop and fired to first to shut down the rally.
• Middlebury pitcher Emily Dowd faced the minimum three batters in the seventh to seal the 3-2 win.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• The navy and white used a familiar formula to push the initial run across in the bottom of the first. Carroll worked a walk with one away before Livy Schultz laced a two-bagger to left center, allowing her teammate to go home for the 1-0 edge.
• The hosts went station-to-station a frame later. Lont earned a one-out base on balls before consecutive singles from Olivia Scholes and Sarah LaFond put a Panther on every base. Carroll brought the second Middlebury run across on a free pass to double the lead.
• A walk, a fielding error and a groundout placed two Continentals in scoring position in the third. Sofia Santana laid down a bunt and the Panthers looked to record an out at the plate, but Chieco beat the throw to cut the margin to one (2-1).
• With one out in the bottom half, Adiletta belted a double to the wall in right center and Fleming followed with a base on balls. A fielder's choice put Adiletta and Lont on the corners before Scholes smacked a two-base hit to center that plated both runners for a 4-1 advantage.
• Vadnais made it to first base on a fielding error to open the away half of the fifth. She advanced to third on a pair of groundouts, but Lont drew a third grounder to second to keep Hamilton off the board.
• Lont kept the final two frames clean in the circle to wrap up the 4-1 decision.

NOTES

• Lont starred in the nightcap, allowing one hit across seven innings of work while collecting her 100th career hit.
• Dowd went the distance in the opener, allowing two runs and fanning five batters.
• Scholes finished 2-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs in the second contest.
• The Panthers own a 51-17 advantage in the all-time series against Hamilton, winning seven in a row and 11 of the last 13 matchups.

Middlebury hosts a twin bill against Trinity on Saturday, beginning at 12:00 p.m. Following the first game's conclusion, the program will honor the contributions of its seniors.