From a Wesleyan release
MIDDLETOWN, CT - The Amherst College softball team picked up a 4-1 win over Wesleyan University this afternoon in the Lord Jeffs' 2009 NESCAC opener. With the win, Amherst improves to 10-3, which is the best start since 2000.
Junior Alex Chang-Graham (San Carlos, CA) allowed just five hits and a first-inning run to Wesleyan (5-9, 0-1 NESCAC West) while Amherst (10-3, 1-0 NESCAC West) belted 12 hits and scored all four of its runs in the 3rd inning to get past its host in the opening conference and Little Three game of the season.
The teams close out their three-game set in Amherst, Mass. with a twin-bill tomorrow.
Though Wesleyan drew first blood as junior pitcher Meaghan Dendy stroked a single, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on junior Taylor Zavadsky's double, the lead lasted only until the 4th inning as Dendy worked out of danger in both the 1st and 2nd.
But after a walk to Amherst first-year Carly Dudzik (Darien, CT), junior Emily Neill (Kentfield, CA) put one over the centerfield fence for her first homer of the year, spotting Amherst a 2-1 lead. Seniors Julia Cummings (Los Angeles, CA) and Holly Trace (Newport, AL) followed with singles and they both scored on a double by senior Maddie Tamagni (Salinas, CA).
Wesleyan did get two runners on in the 5th but could not add to its run total. Dendy did well to keep Amherst to four runs as the Lord Jeffs stranded 14 runners in the contest. Trace and Tamagni accounted for half the Amherst hits with three apiece. Freshman Sam Epstein had two hits for the Cardinals.
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