AMHERST, Mass. -- The Amherst College softball program celebrated Senior Day for
Sadie Pool and
Randi Finkelstein Saturday, but had to settle for that ceremony as the highlight of the day as Middlebury swept the conference doubleheader at the Amherst Softball Field, 9-1 (5 inn. mercy rule) and 6-5.
The Mammoths saw their losing streak extended to eight games and their record fall to 7-26 overall and 3-13 in NESCAC play. Middlebury improved to 19-11 overall and 10-6 in the conference.
Amherst will conclude the 2024 season by hosting Colby College Saturday, May 4h for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
Game 2: Middlebury 6, Amherst 5
* Down 2-0, the Mammoths ralied foir four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 lead.
Annalise Knop led off with a single.
Olivia Aitkin followed with a single down the right-field line. A forceout at third produced the first out, but
Dani Torres Werra worked a walk to load the bases. Finkelstein followed with a blast to center that cleared the bases for a three-run triple and 3-2 lead. Pool then ripped a single into left-field to plate Finkelstein.
* Amherst made it 5-2 with a single run in the fourth. Aitkin laced a one-out single and stole second.
Emma Nordstrom worked a walk. With two outs, Finkelstein came through again, singling to left-center to score Aitkin.
* The Mammoths led 5-3 entering the top of the seventh. Torres Werra retired the first batter of the inning but a string of hits led to Panther Cate Viola driving in th go-ahead run with a single. The Mammoths were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
* Amherst had nine hits in the loss. Finkelstein was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI. Pool was 2 for 4 with one RBI. Aitkin was 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
* Torres Werra took the loss, falling to 3-10. She went 6 1/3 innings and allowed 11 hits and six runs, all earned, while walking one and striking out five.
Game 1: Middlebury 9, Amherst 1 (5 inn.)
* Down 2-0, the Mammoths rallied for a run in the first. Knop led off with a single. Aitkin sacrificed her to second with a bunt. With two outs, Torres Werra singled to left to put runners on the corners. Finkelstein was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Pool was plunked to force home a run.
* Up 3-1, Middlebury scored six runs in the fifth inning to take a 9-1 lead.
* Knop took the loss, falling to 3-8. In four innings she allowed six hits and five runs, two earned. She walked four and did not strike out a batter.
* Amherst had five hits in the loss. Torres Werra was 2 for 3 and Finkelstein finished 1 for 1.
