CLINTON, N.Y. -- The Amherst College softball team found its bats Saturday, producing 20 runs in a 7-5, 13-3 sweep of NESCAC West rival Hamilton at the Continentals' Loop Road Complex.
With the sweep, the Mammoths moved to 12-5 overall, 4-2 in the NESCAC West while Hamilton fell to 12-5 overall and 1-2 in divisional play. Amherst is back in action Wednesday with a twinbill at Springfield College beginning at 3:30 p.m.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:
* The Mammoths batted around in both the second and third innings, scoring five in the second and six in the third to build an 11-0 lead. In the second,
Jess Butler got things started with a single to left and
Randi Finkelstein worked a walk. An error loaded the bases for
Talia Bloxham, who ripped a grounder into the hole on the right side that was knocked down but with no play, allowing Butler to score. A great jump off of third by Finkelstein allowed her to slide headfirst across the plate on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead. After an out,
Megan Taketa lined a shot to deep left that scored both runners for a 4-0 lead and went as a triple for the speedster. She stole home on the back end of a double steal for the 5-0 advantage.
* Amherst added six in the third. Finkelstein led off with a single and
Sadie Pool followed with a deep drive to center field that cleared the fence for a two-run homer. Bloxham then drove a pitch to deep right for a triple and scored on a
Virginia Ryan groundout. Taketa singled through the left side and stole second,
Rachel Lovejoy walked and, with two outs,
Dani Torres Werra grounded a two-run single back up the middle for a 10-0 lead. Butler doubled her home for an 11-0 lead.
* Amherst had 14 hits total over 5 innings. Torres Werra, was had a two-run homer in the top of the fifth, went 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Butler was 3 for 4 with an RBI and run scored. Taketa was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.
Autumn Lee was 2 for 3 and Bloxham was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
* The Mammoths had one double, two triples and two home runs in the game.
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:
* Amherst took a 2-0 lead in the first, fell behind 5-2 and then rallied for five unanswered runs and a 7-5 victory.
* In the Mammoths first, Taketa walked and stole second. With two outs, Torres Werra's fly to right was dropped, allowing Taketa to score.
America Rangel ripped a two-out double to left for a 2-0 lead.
* Down three, Lovejoy was hit by a pitch to start the third. Lee doubled and Lovejopy scored on a wild pitch. Torres Werra then grounded a single through the right side to make it a 5-4 game.
* At that point the sacrifice fly took over. Taketa doubled to lead off the fourth and went to third when Lovejoy reached on an error. Lee lofted a sacrifice fly to tie the game 5-5. Lovejoy went to third on a fielder's choice and Butler scored her with the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to left.
* Amherst added an insurance run in the fifth when
Devynn Wilderman worked a lead-off walk and Ryan also walked. A groundout to third by
Mia Castro advanced the runners and Taketa scored Wilderman with another sacrifice fly.
* Bloxham earned the win for the Mammoths, scattering nine hits over seven innings while walking two and striking out two. Of the five runs she allowed, none were earned.
* Torres Werra and Rangel each hit 2 for 4 in the victory.
