Ephs split doubleheader with Middlebury

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Junior

Katie Blanch and first-year

Miya Fujimoto of the Williams College softball team finished with three hits, respectively, during a doubleheader split with Middlebury Saturday afternoon at Cole Field.

Senior captain and starting pitcher

Sadie Leonard worked six innings and earned the victory in a 6-1 win during Game 1 for the Ephs (19-13, 8-4 NESCAC). Leonard only allowed one run, while junior relief pitcher

Natalie Carter slammed the door shut in the seventh by not giving up a single run.

Williams was led offensively in the first game by sophomore

Aprill Medrano (2 for 3, 1 run), Fujimoto (2 for 3, 1 run) and Blanch (2 for 3). Leading the way for the Panthers (25-7, 9-5 NESCAC) was Kristyn Carroll (2 for 3). The Ephs held a 10-6 advantage in hits and neither team made an error.

The Ephs struck first in the bottom half of the second, as sophomore

Dani Jackman blasted a two-run homer to left. The visitors found their way onto the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, with Jen Westphal connecting on a one-out, solo homer to center.

The hosts ended the scoring with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth, as the run was highlighted with two-run singles by sophomore

Lauren Davis and senior

Sidney Miller.

In Game 2, Middlebury prevailed by a score of 11-2, as Middlebury starter Emily Dowd went the complete seven innings in the circle and gave up two runs and five hits, while walking only one batter. Carroll went 5 for 5 in the batter's box, with three runs, for the Panthers, while Sarah LaFond finished 3 of 4, with two RBIs, one double and one run.

Each team scored two runs in the first inning. Olivia Fleming tallied a two-run double down the right-field line for the Panthers. Davis connected on a two-run single up the middle for the Ephs.

Neither team scored again until the Panthers put up nine runs in their half of the seventh. The surge was highlighted by a three-run, bases-clearing double to center by Westphal and a two-run double to right-center by LaFond.

The Ephs compete against Wesleyan in a doubleheader Sunday, with game times set for 1 and 3 p.m. on Cole Field.