WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Idalia Friedson '15 belted a three-run homer in the sixth inning to help the Amherst College softball team come from behind for a 5-2 win over Williams College on Friday.
After Williams broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth, Friedson responded with her second home run of the season to give the Lord Jeffs a 4-2 lead. Starting pitcher Theresa Kelley '13 followed with a solo shot to give Amherst more breathing room, and Arielle Doering '14 held the Ephs scoreless the rest of the way to earn the win in relief.
The Lord Jeffs (15-0, 1-0 NESCAC West) extended the program's longest winning streak to 15 games, while the Ephs dropped to 6-9 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The two teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader tomorrow in Amherst, but those games have been moved to Sunday, Apr. 1, due to the forecast of rain and snow. Sunday's first game will begin at noon.
Amherst got on the board in the top of the third when Kelsey Ayers '15 began a two-out rally with a single through the left side of the infield. Donna Leet '15 followed with a bunt single that pushed Ayers to third, and the Jeffs soon got the game's first run when the Ephs' catcher made an errant throw on a steal attempt by Leet.
Kelley struck out the side in the bottom of the second and retired the first seven Ephs she faced, but Williams would get a run back in the fourth. Ally Ensor led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and the hosts brought her home on another bunt to make it a 1-1 game.
Amanda Correnti put the hosts ahead on a leadoff homer that chased Kelley from the game in the bottom of the fifth. Williams loaded the bases that inning but could not add to its lead, as Doering ended the threat by inducing a flyout to left.
Amherst's winning rally in the sixth began when Leet and Reilly Horan '13 delivered back-to-back singles to center field. After Friedson put the Jeffs ahead with her three-run blast, Kelley homered for the second time in as many games to bring the score to 5-2.
The Ephs loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth but could not capitalize, as Doering got Theresa Legan to ground out to Carolyn Miller '14 at shortstop. Williams drew a pair of two-out walks in the seventh but once again came up empty, with the final three outs coming on grounders back to Doering.
Kelley allowed only four hits and struck out five batters in the first four innings, but she would not factor into the decision. Doering improved to 4-0 on the season after surrendering four hits and three walks with one strikeout, while Ayers went 3-for-4 and Leet added a pair of hits to pace the Amherst offense.
First-year Emma Harrington (4-3) gave up four earned runs on eight hits in six innings for the Ephs, striking out five and walking none. Kaitlin Dinet allowed one hit in her only inning of relief.
Fans will be able to follow Sunday's doubleheader with live statistics.
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