WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – The Amherst College softball team busted open the 2016 season with a 7-1 win over Babson College, and held on for a 5-3 victory over New England College in Saturday's season-opening doubleheader in Winter Garden, Fla.

BABSON HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Brianna Cook led Amherst at the plate going 3-for-3 with 3 RBI while adding a run and a walk.
• First year's Kyra Naftel and Julia Turner had great starts to their collegiate careers as both finished 2-for-4 at the dish. Naftel scored a run, while Turner drove in a pair of runners in the winning effort.
• Lorena Ukanwa earned the win in the circle for the Purple & White allowing six hits with four strikeouts, and zero earned runs.

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS

• Lauren Tuiskula '17 paced Amherst in the second game going 2-for-3 at the plate while adding a score.
• Naftel and Annie Murphy '19 both added a triple and scored a run.
• Sophomore Gina Pagan pitched a two-hitter, highlighted by five strikouts and zero earned runs to help seal the 5-3 win.

By the Numbers

• Five different players scored for the Purple & White in game two. 
• Amherst had a combined 18 hits on the day.

Up Next

• The Purple & White return to the field tomorrow to take on Becker College at 9 a.m. and the University of New England at 11 a.m.