AMHERST, Mass. – The Amherst College softball team delivered a walk-off win for the third straight game to win their sixth in a row with a 5-4 win over Middlebury College in NESCAC action on Friday afternoon at the Amherst Softball Field. Junior left fielder
Megan Taketa came through with the game-winning hit, beating out the throw on a single in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Mammoths improved to 9-2 overall with their 14th straight win over Middlebury while the Panthers fell to 6-5 in the NESCAC opener for both teams. The two teams are back on the Amherst Softball Field tomorrow (Sat., April 2) for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* The Mammoths got on the board in the third inning with Taketa getting things started with a single to left. Junior right fielder
Rachel Lovejoy laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first and junior shortstop
Autumn Lee singled to left to drive in Taketa. Junior catcher
Jess Butler followed with a two-run single to give the Mammoths a 3-0 lead.
* The Panthers tied the game in the top of the sixth when senior third baseman Noelle Ruschil blasted a three-run homer to left center field.
* Middlebury pulled ahead in the top of the seventh on an RBI double from sophomore catcher Megan Fox, but the Mammoths tied the game back up in the bottom of the inning when Lee drove in Taketa to send the game to extra innings.
* After junior pitcher
Audrey Orlowski kept the Panthers off the scoreboard in the top of the eighth, first-year second baseman
America Rangel got the Mammoths going in the bottom of the eighth with a single up the middle. Senior captain
Talia Bloxham sent a single down the left field line to advance Rangel to third, then Taketa came to the plate and hit the ball to shortstop, beating out the throw at first base to score Rangel and win the game for Amherst.
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Taketa was 3-for-4 at the plate, also reaching on a walk and scoring two runs before batting in the game-winning run, as the Mammoths outhit the Panthers, 12-7.
* Lee and Butler each tallied a pair of RBIs in the game.
* First-year pitcher
Dani Torres Werra got the start for Amherst and didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning, striking out a season-high eight batters while walking only one. Junior
Audrey Orlowski pitched the final two innings in relief and allowed only one run to earn the win and improve to 3-1 on the season.