LEESBURG, FL. -- Senior Virginia Ryan went 6 for 7 at the plate Thursday as the Amherst College softball team split a pair of games at the Sleepy Hollow Athletic Complex, dropping an 8-5 decision to the University of New England in the opener but riding an eight-run second inning to a 9-3 victory over Maryville (Tn.) College in the nightcap.

The Mammoths are now 4-2 on their trip down south. They have Friday off before concluding their visit to the Sunshine State with games against Luther and Rhodes Saturday morning. 

GAME 1
* UNE scored five runs in the top of the first to put the Mammoths in a hole they ultimately could not climb out of. One of the great oddities of this contest was the fact Amherst had four triples in its 14-hit attack. In the bottom of the first, Randi Finkelstein had an RBI-three bagger that scored Autumn Lee, who had tripled. In the bottom of the third, it was Ryan with an opposite-field triple that scored Finkelstein, who had drawn a two-out walk. After an America Rangel walk, Sadie Pool singled to score Ryan and make it 6-3. 

* Amherst added two in the fifth when Finkelstein roped her second triple of the game and scored when Ryan ripped an RBI-single to right. Ryan came around to score on an infield single to short by Megan Taketa to make it 7-5, but that would be as close as the Mammoths would come. 

* Finkelstein (2 for 2), Ryan (3 for 3) and Rangel (3 for 3) -- the Mammoths 4-5-6 hitters in this game -- finished a combined 8 for 8 with 3 RBIs and 4 runs scored. 

GAME 2
* The eight-run second inning was ignited by Dani Torres Werra, who led off with a single. Ryan singled, and Rangel walked to load the bases. Mia Castro scored Ryan with the second run on a forceout. Pool singled to left to score another. Taketa singled up the middle to score a run. Rachel Lovejoy singled up the middle for another run. After the second out, Finkelstein rocketed a two-run double to left. Werra followed with an RBI triple, and Ryan scored Werra her second hit of the inning for an 8-0 lead. 

* Talia Bloxham pitched a complete game for the Purple & White, allowing three runs, all earned, on seven hits and four walks. She struck out seven.

* Ryan was 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Werra was 2 for 2 with an RBI and two runs scored.