AMHERST, MA – The Amherst College softball team suffered a 3-1 loss to Worcester Polytechnic Institute in its 2008 home opener to fall to 5-6 on the season, as the Lord Jeffs were defeated by the Owls on their home field for the first time this decade. WPI scored three runs in the top of the third inning and held on for the victory to move to 7-4 on the year.
Junior Samantha Miller (Newton, MA) had another solid outing on the mound, but a minor lapse on defense in the top of the third inning resulted in three WPI runs—only one of which was earned—that proved to be enough for the visitors to earn the win.
After junior Nicole Maglione and senior co-captain Briana Dougherty singled with one out, fellow co-captain Nicole DeCampo drove in Maglione with a single of her own, with Dougherty scoring on an overthrow. DeCampo scored on a wild pitch later in the inning for the third run, but Miller retired the last five batters she faced to end her day after four solid innings of work.
Junior Maddie Tamagni (Salinas, CA) pitched the final three innings for Amherst, striking out two batters while allowing just three hits and walking none, but the Lord Jeffs couldn't get their bats going against first-year southpaw Lindsay Brown. The rookie left-hander allowed one earned run on six hits in the complete-game victory, striking out six and walking just one, as she moved to 4-2 on the year.
Amherst's lone run came in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Jackie Tyler (Ridgewood, NJ) led off with a single through the right side. Tamagni moved Tyler over to second base with a groundout, allowing senior tri-captain Liz Neckes (Dover, MA) to pick up her team-leading 11th RBI of the season on a double to left field. Brown would allow only one hit the rest of the way, as the Jeffs couldn't complete the comeback.
Tyler and Neckes each went 2-for-3 to lead Amherst, while first-year Katie Kervick (Windsor Locks, CT) and senior tri-captain Kelly King (Grosse Point Park, MI) had one hit apiece. Miller (2-2) picked up four strikeouts and allowed only four hits and one walk in 4.0 innings. Maglione was 2-for-4 as the only Owl with multiple hits.
The Lord Jeffs return to action Friday to kick off a three-game home series with Middlebury College. Friday's game is set for 4 p.m., with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at noon on Saturday.
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