AMHERST, Mass. --
Randi Finkelstein rocked a 1-0 pitch over the fence in straightaway center field with one out and two on in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday to send the Amherst College softball team to a 3-2 victory over Wesleyan University at the Amherst College Softball Field.
The dramatic round tripper improved the Mammoths' overall record to 19-7 and their mark in the NESCAC's West Division to 7-3 heading into the final day of the regular season Saturday. The Mammoths will be at Wesleyan for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m, Amherst needs to win one game to capture the top seed out of the West Division.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* The Mammoths were held without a hit for the first 5 innings Friday by Cardinal starter Isabella Secaira-Cotta. The only baserunner in the first five innings for Amherst came on an error by Wesleyan.
* The Cardinals broken open a scoreless pitcher's dual between their own Secaira-Cotta and Mammoth
Dani Torres Werra with two runs in the top of the fifth. After an error, Courtney Collins-Pisano stroked a double to center for a 1-0 lead. A bloop hit that fell safely in no man's land behind third base by Sophoa Sciarappa made it 2-0.
* Mammoth first-year
Devynn Wilderman broke up the no-hit bid when she lined a forzsen rope over second base that bounded to the fence for a double. However, she was thrown out at third on the play.
* In the Amherst 7th.
Jess Butler led off with a grounder to short and was safe at firs, just beating the throw, after it was bobbled. Torres Werra then grounded a ball back up the middle and just out of the reach of the Cardinal second baseman for a single that put runners on first and second with no one out. After Butler was forced out at third for the first out, Finkelstein took ball one, then hammered the next offering on a line to center. The drive had enough oomph in it to carry over the fence for a three-run walk-off homer.
* Finkelstein's big blast made a winner out of Torres Werra, who hurled a complete-game effort, allowing seven hits in seven innings and two runs, one earned, while not walking a batter and striking out eight. She improved to 8-2 from the circle this season.
