MEDFORD, Mass. -- Bates College softball made history Friday as the #7 ranked Bobcats knocked off the defending conference champions, Amherst College, by a 1-0 score to earn the garnet and white its first-ever NESCAC Championship Tournament victory.

The Bobcats now advance to Saturday's semifinal round where they will take on either #3 Williams or #6 Trinity at 5:00 p.m. The aforementioned squads will take the diamond earlier in the day at noon. Bates played both of these teams this past weekend, dropping a pair at Trinity (13-19) last Saturday before splitting with the Ephs (19-15) at home on Sunday.

In Friday's contest, the Bobcats and Mammoths (24-13) put up six innings of goose eggs before Bates broke up the scoreless stalemate in the top of the seventh frame.

3B Kama Boswell led off the stanza with a walk and promptly advanced to second on a passed ball. CF Cassidy Musco followed with a single through the left side, pushing Boswell to third. After Musco swiped second base, SS Ella Maher ripped a single to center to plate Boswell with what would hold up as the game-winning knock.

Bobcat first-year pitching ace, Madison Hollis, went the first five innings in the circle for Bates, scattering five hits and walk (2 K) in the no-decision. Amherst, with nine left-on-base in the setback, stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the third. The Mammoths also had a runner forced out at the plate via fielder's choice in the home half of the fourth.

Delaney Rankin took the ball from her fellow first-year to start the sixth and permitted a lone hit and walk over her two innings to earn the victory (7-6). Amherst starter, Dani Torres Werra, was tagged with the loss, allowing just one run (1 ER) on six hits and two free passes (5 K).

The Bobcats garnered eight hits in the triumph, led by LF Sarah Cooke with her 2-for-3 (2B) contribution.

Bates entered the day with an overall record of 0-4 in NESCAC Tournament play.