CLINTON, N.Y. - The Amherst softball team remained unbeaten in NESCAC West play (6-0) after taking both games of a doubleheader with conference rival Hamilton College on Saturday afternoon. 

Taking the first meeting of this weekend's pivotal three-game set 6-3 on Friday, the Jeffs opened today's twinbill with a 5-2 win before securing an 8-2 victory in the nightcap to complete the sweep. 

Improving to 27-1 overall on the season, Amherst has now won the last 10 meetings against Hamilton (6-19, 0-9 NESCAC West), outscoring the Continentals 71-17 during that span, with their last loss coming during the 2009 season.

The Lord Jeffs return to action on Wednesday, Apr. 18 at MCLA.

Game 1: Amherst 5, Hamilton 2
Scoreless through the first two innings, Amherst broke through in the top half of the third, pushing across a pair of runs on three hits. Kelsey Ayers '15 (Los Altos, Calif.) got the rally started with a two-out single before stealing second. Kaitlin Silkowitz '14 (Scarsdale, N.Y.) then singled to put runners on the corners before a Donna Leet '15 (Seattle, Wash.) double cleared the bases, staking the Jeffs to a 2-0 lead.

With starter Arielle Doering '14 (Branchburg, N.J.) continuing to roll, retiring the Continentals in order over the next two frames, Amherst padded its lead in the top of the fifth on a Reilly Horan '13 (Darien, Conn.) two-out single, before tacking on two more runs in the seventh.

Hoping to finally get to Doering in the bottom of the inning, Katie Puccio '15 drew a lead-off walk before Sam Miller '14 reached on an error to put two aboard. After Melissa Kaknis '13 popped out to short, Kelly Leonard '15 singled to load the bases. Hitting Chelsea Merritt '14 to force in the Continentals first run, Doering then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Miller to score before walking Cara Vennari '12 to once again load the bases.

Looking to regroup, Amherst called on reliever Caroline Sealander '15 (Washington, D.C.), who promptly struckout Ellie Kiernan '15 before getting Ashley Perritt '14 to ground out to short, ending the Hamilton threat.

Silkowitz and Leet each went 2-for-4, combining for two RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Ayers, Horan and Carolyn Miller '14 (Leominster, Mass.) accounted for rest of the Jeffs' seven hits.

Perritt and Leonard recorded Hamilton's lone hits against Doering, who lasted six and a third innings, surrendering just one earned run en route to her seventh victory of the season. Leonard took the loss for the Continentals, allowing five runs on seven hits, while striking out nine.

Game 2: Amherst 8, Hamilton 2
With Amherst holding onto a 1-0 lead heading into the top half of the seventh, the Lord Jeffs blew the game open, scoring seven runs on seven hits. Carly Dudzik '12 (Darien, Conn.) got the inning started with a lead-off triple, spelling the end of Hamilton sophomore starter Summer Bottini's day. 

After Karina Kossler '15 (Mission Viejo, Calif.) singled to put runners on the corners with nobody out, Ayers ripped the frame's second triple, plating a pair of Jeff runs. Silkowitz then recorded the inning's first out with a comebacker to the mound, before Leet reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Ayers to come home.

With two out and two on, Theresa Kelley '13 (Los Angeles, Calif.) doubled, bringing home Leet, while putting runners on second and third. After a patient Doering drew a walk, Dudzik ripped a bases-clearing double that gave Amherst a commanding 8-0 lead they would not relinquish.

Dudzik led a Jeff lineup that pounded out 13 hits, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Kossler went 3-for-4. 

Perritt finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Kiernan, Miller, Bottini, Puccio and Jenn Rougeux '14 each added a hit. 

Kelley was once again solid on the mound, scattering five hits in six shutout innings to improve to 16-0 on the year, while Bottini allowed two runs on seven hits in the loss.

BOX SCORE (Game 1)

BOX SCORE (Game 2)