CLINTON, N.Y. – Continentals first-year Ella Heftved delivered a two-run triple in the sixth inning to give Hamilton College the lead on the way to a 4-2 win over the Amherst College softball team in the first of a three-game NESCAC West series on Friday afternoon at the Loop Road Softball Complex.

The Continentals improved to 12-3 in their NESCAC opener while the Mammoths fell to 10-5 overall and 2-2 in NESCAC West games. Amherst and Hamilton square off again in a doubleheader tomorrow (Saturday, April 9) at noon.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* The Mammoths got on the board in the top of the first inning. Junior outfielder Rachel Lovejoy reached on a walk and first-year pitcher Dani Torres Werra hit a double to left center to drive in Lovejoy.

* Junior shortstop Autumn Lee drove in another run in the top of the third. After junior outfielder Megan Taketa walked and stole second, Lee singled up the middle to drive in Taketa and give Amherst a 2-0 lead.

* The Continentals got one back in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore pitcher Natalie Beebe singled up the middle to drive in a run.

* The Continentals took the lead in the bottom of the sixth on Heftved's two-run triple. Senior captain Shelby McVey drove in Heftved later in the inning to give Hamilton a 4-2 lead.

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Beebe pitched a complete game to earn the win for the Continentals, striking out four.

* Werra's double was one of three Amherst hits. The first-year has now hit safely in the last four games.

* First-year first baseman Emma Tansky went 2-for-3 for the Continentals, scoring two of Hamilton's runs.