AMHERST, Mass. - The Amherst College baseball team dropped a pair of pitching duels Saturday to Little Three and NESCAC West rival Wesleyan University on Senior Day at the Earl Lorden Field on the campus of UMass. 

Following the losses, the Jeffs drop to 18-10 overall and 9-3 in the NESCAC West. The Cardinals remain unbeaten in league play (9-0) and improve to 21-7 on the year. The Purple & White concluded its regular season conference schedule and returns to the field Tuesday, April 28 for a road matchup against Division I Dartmouth College at 3 p.m.

GAME 1: WESLEYAN 1, AMHERST 0 (7 innings)
The first game of Saturday's doubleheader featured a pitching duel between Amherst's John Cook '15 and Wesleyan's Gavin Pittore, as the two allowed a combined one run on eight hits. Cook tossed a complete game and allowed just one run and one walk on five hits, while striking out four batters in his first loss of the season (4-1). Pittore pitched a complete game shutout and surrendered just three hits with six strikeouts as he improved to 5-2.

Mike Odenwaelder '16, Ariel Kenney '18 and Harry Roberson '18 each recorded a single for Amherst, while Donnie Cimino led the Cardinals with two hits (2-for-3) and a run scored. Ben Hoynes went 1-for-2 and drove in the game-winning run, while Guy Davidson and Eric Jones added a single each.

After three scoreless innings, the visitor's rallied in the top of the fourth. Cimino hit a lead off single through the right side, Davidson singled on the next at-bat through the left side and Jonathan Dennett advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Cook intentionally walked Sam Goodwin-Boyd to load the bases, and Hoynes brought home Cimino with another sacrifice bunt for the game-winning run.

Both teams combined for just one hit over the final three innings as the Cardinals claimed the 1-0 win.

GAME 2: WESLEYAN 2, AMHERST 0
Game two was yet another pitching duel, as Wesleyan's Sam Elias earned the win with a complete game shutout. He improved to 6-0 on the year with three strikeouts and three hits. Keenan Szulik '17 pitched a gem for Amherst in the losing effort with another complete game effort as he allowed just two runs on seven hits and struck out four batters.

Brendon Hardin '15 went 2-for-3 to lead the Jeffs, while Tyler Jacobs '15 recorded a double (1-for-3). Cimino led Wesleyan offensively with a 2-for-4 performance, while Hoynes and Dennett each drove in a run. Six different batters recorded a hit for the visitors.

Wesleyan scored both runs in the top of the first. Cimino hit a one out single and advanced to second on the next at-bat following another single from Davidson. Dennett then drove in Cimino with a single up the middle for the game-winner. Goodwin-Boyd hit a single through the left side to load the bases, as Hoynes flied out to left field for the sacrifice fly to bring home Davidson. The Cardinals were held to just three hits the remainder of the game, but Amherst's offense was unable to capitalize.