MIDDLETOWN, CT -- The Amherst College softball team rallied from a five-run deficit in the nightcap of its doubleheader with rival Wesleyan University to post a 6-5 win and complete a doubleheader sweep of the Cardinals.
With the sweep, the Mammoths captured the 2023 Little 3 title while improving to 23-11 overall and 11-5 in conference play. They are off until Saturday, May 6th, when they travel to Waterville, Maine to conclude the 2023 regular season with a twin-bill at Colby.
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:
* Although the Mammoths banged out 15 hits, runs were harder to come by. In the top of the 2nd,
Sadie Pool led off with a double and took third on an
Autumn Lee double.
Randi Finkelstein then looped a single into shallow center that plated both runners for a 2-0 lead.
* Amherst added another in the third when
Megan Taketa led off with a single and raced all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt from
Rachel Lovejoy.
Dani Torres Werra then ripped a single that scored Taketa for a 3-0 lead.
* After Wesleyan cut the deficit to 3-1, the Mammoths responded with single runs in the fourth and sixth to take a 5-1 lead. In the fourth
Rachel Lovejoy delivered a two-out, RBI single to left that scored pinch runner
Abby Kong.
America Rangel opened the sixth with a double to center field. She scored when Torres Werra rifled a single into right field.
*
Abby Moravek earned the win with five solid innings, giving up just one hit while walking two and striking out four to improve to 9-3.
Dylan Briggs earned her second save of the season, allowing one run over two innings.
* At the plate, Pool and Lee were both 3 for 4 while Moravek and Rangel were each 2 for 3. Torres Werra was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:
* Amherst trailed 5-0 after four frames. The Mammoth's comeback started in the top of the fifth when Rangel singled. Taketa laid down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away, allowing Rangel to score and Taketa to take third. Lovejoy scored Taketa with a grounder to short.
* Pool and Lee opened the sixth with back-to-back singles up the middle. Finkelstein followed with a line shot just to the right of center that found a gap and bounced to the fence, giving her a two-run triple and closing the gap to 5-4.
Jess Butler came through with a medium fly ball to left that went for a sacrifice fly after Finkelstein tagged up and beat a strong throw home by an eyelash to tie the game.
* Amherst won it in the top of the seventh. Taketa lined a single to left leading off and again, raced to third on a Lovejoy sacrifice bunt. Torres Werra then grounded a single back up the middle that found its way into center field, scoring Taketa with the go-ahead run.
* Moravek also picked up the win in the nightcap with 3 1/3 innings of 1-hit, no-run relief. She walked one and struck out six over her appearance to improve to 10-3 on the season.
* Finkelstein was 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored. Taketa was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
