AMHERST, Mass. -- Amherst College swept a non-divisional NESCAC softball doubleheader on Monday, winning Game 1 3-0 and taking the second game 11-2. All three of the Lord Jeffs’ runs in the first game came in the first inning, while their pitching held the Bobcats scoreless for the 3-0 win. Amherst needed just five innings to take care of business in the second game, cruising to an 11-2 victory.
Amherst (14-14) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning of game one, including a 2-run triple from junior catcher Liz Neckes, but those would be the only three runs scored in the game. First-year Alex Chang-Graham allowed only two hits in four innings on the mound, striking out four while walking none to improve to 6-9 on the season.
Bates senior Kristin Masino (North Arlington, N.J.) picked up the loss for the Bobcats to move to 4-7 on the year, but pitched exceptionally well after the first inning, as she allowed only four hits after the first inning and did not allow a hit after the third inning. First-year Jill Cappucci (Saugus, Mass.), senior Katie Franklin (New Preston, Conn.) and sophomore Stacia Saniuk (Sharon, Mass.) each went 1-for-3 for Bates.
The Jeffs got on the board in the second inning of the nightcap after three Bates fielding miscues led to three Amherst unearned runs, with Rodli and first-year Jackie Tyler each picking up RBIs. Bates came back to load the bases with no outs in the top of the third, leading to a Saniuk 2-run single. Sophomore Leah Citrin (Rye Brook, N.Y.) singled to load the bases once again, but Amherst junior hurler Sam Miller struck out three batters in a row to end the threat and escape the inning with a 3-2 lead.
Amherst plated five more runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth to put the mercy rule into effect.
Miller (5-4) allowed seven hits and one earned run in her five innings, striking out five and walking three. Sophomore Christina Knobel (1-5) picked up the loss for Bates, while first-year Shayna Waldman came in for 1 1/3 innings of relief. Citrin was the only Bobcat with multiple hits in game two (2-for-3).
Bates will play host to Bowdoin College on Friday at 4:30 p.m. to start a three-game, home-and-home series with the Polar Bears.
-- Amherst College Sports Information
BOX SCORE: Amherst 3, Bates 0 (Game 1)
BOX SCORE: Amherst 11, Bates 2 (Game 2)
