AMHERST, Mass. -- Jack Sampedro and Charlie LaFreniere each had three hits Saturday to lead the Amherst College to an 8-4 victory over NESCAC West Division rival Middlebury on Memorial Field. 

The win ended a four-game losing streak for the Mammoths, who improved to 7-8 overall and 1-1 in divisional play. The Panthers fell to 10-8 overall and 1-1 in the NESCAC West. 

Saturday's second game was postponed by rain after two innings and 1 hours, 24-minute rain delay. Make-up date has yet to be decided. 

Amherst is home Wednesday for a 3:30 p.m. contest with RPI.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Middlebury nicked Amherst starter E.J. Nevills for a run in the top of the first, but the Mammoths responded with two in the second, third and fourth to build a 6-1 lead. Singles by LaFreniere and Justin Orridge opened the inning before a catcher's interference call with Matthew Chen up loaded the bases. J.J. Grimes worked a walk that forced home LaFreniere to tie the game, and an Aiden Dubetsky grounder to second scored Orridge for a 2-1 Amherst lead. 

* In the Amherst third, Tyler McCord led off with a walk and Sampedro followed with a single. The runners moved up on a McIntyre groundout. LaFreniere then hit a slow roller to short and beat the throw as the ball got away from the first baseman allowing both runners to score for a 4-1 Amherst lead.

* The Mammoths added two in the fourth. Grimes drew a walk to lead off and Dubetsky laid down a nice bunt to the right of the pitcher's mound he beat out for a hit. With two outs and runners on the corners, McCord, who reached on a fielder's choice, stole second. Sampedro followed with a line shot to right center that landed for a two-run single and a 6-1 lead. 

* Nevills was solid through four, but the Panthers made him work in the fifth, helped out by a dropped foul ball. That error, two hits, a walk and a hit batsman equaled three runs as Middlebury closed to 6-4.

* Sampedro came on in the top of the sixth and struck out the first two batters he faced, it the next two, and induced a groundout to end the frame. 

* In the bottom of the sixth, the Mammoths added two key runs for an 8-4 lead. Dubetsky started things with a lead-off single and promptly stole second. Jack Boyle lined an RBI-single to center field and took second on the throw home. After an out and a failed pick-off attempt that allowed Boyle to advance to third, Sampedro grounded a single through a drawn-in infield for an RBI-single and the four run lead. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Nevills improved to 2-0, going five frames, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out three. Of the four runs he was charged, only ywo were earned. Sampedro earned his third save, tossing two frames without allowing a hit or walk while striking out four. 

* LaFreniere was 3 for 3 with a walk, RBI and run scored. Sampedro was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and a run scored. Dubetsky was 2 for 3 with an RBI and run scored.