CLINTON, N.Y. - A two-run top of the fifth inning broke a 3-3 tie as the Amherst College baseball team defeated NESCAC rival Hamilton College on the road Friday night at Royce Field, 5-3.

The Jeffs' hot streak continues as they improve to 7-0 in the NESCAC and 15-7 overall with nine wins in their last 10 games. With the loss, the Continentals drop to 2-2 in league play and 10-7 on the year.

Yanni Thanopoulos '17 and Harry Roberson '18 led the Purple & White with two hits each as the visitor's finished with nine total. Both players recorded a double and a RBI, while Roberson scored twice from the lead-off spot. Tyler Jacobs '15 added a double as well, and joined Conner Gunn '16, Mike Odenwaelder '16, Andrew Vandini '16 and Sam Ellinwood '18 with one hit each.

Keenan Szulik '16 earned the starting nod on the mound and picked up his fourth win of the season (4-1). The junior tossed 7.1 innings and struck out an impressive 13 batters, while allowing three runs on six hits. Mike Castiglie '16 entered the game in the eighth inning to record the win as he threw 1.2 scoreless and hit-less innings. It was the first save of the season for the sophomore.

Hamilton was led offensively by Zach Becker with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including a RBI. Ryan Wolfsberg and Dean Rosenberg each hit a home run, while David Rose registered a double. Jjay Lane was credited with the loss as he allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits in 5.0 innings of work. Spencer Vogelbach entered in relief and did not allowed a run in 4.0 innings, while striking out three and surrendering just one hit.

The Jeffs came out hot to start the game and jumped on the Continentals' pitching in the top of the first inning. Roberson led-off with a single to left field and later scored on a double down the right field line by Thanopoulos. On the next at-bat, Gunn singled to left field to bring home Odenwaelder who reached base on a fielding error by Hamilton. Thanopoulos was thrown out at home plate on Gunn's single as Amherst claimed a 2-0 lead after one.

In the top of the second, the Jeffs increased their lead to three as they took advantage of the Continentals' miscues. Anthony Spina '17 reached first on a fielding error to start the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ellinwood, and later reached third on a wild pitch before Roberson brought him home with an infield groundout to shortstop.

Hamilton, however, tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom half of the inning as Wolfsberg and Rosenberg hit back-to-back solo home runs with two outs. Rose then doubled to center field and crossed home on the next at-bat after a single by Becker through the left side.

Both teams were held scoreless the next two innings until the top of the fifth, when Ellinwood and Roberson led off with a single and double, respectively. Vandini then singled through the left side to bring home Ellinwood for the game-winning run, before Odenwaelder provided some insurance with a RBI single down the left field line.

The Jeffs' pitching allowed just two hits in the final four innings as they held on for the two-run victory. They return to the field tomorrow for a doubleheader against Hamilton to wrap up the weekend series. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.