BRUNSWICK, Maine — Seventh-seeded Bates softball saw its 2026 season come to a crushing end Friday, as second-seeded Middlebury walked off the Bobcats, 3-2, in eight innings during the NESCAC Championship Tournament quarterfinals at Bowdoin College's Pickard Diamond.
The Bobcats (17-19) carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh and were one out away from advancing before the Panthers (31-8) tied the game on an RBI single from CF Kristyn Carroll (Kinnelon, N.J.). Middlebury then ended it in the eighth, using three consecutive singles — including the game-winning knock from Olivia Scholes (Toronto, Ontario) — to complete the comeback.
Bates struck first in the top of the second inning. Junior CF
Zariya Anderson opened the frame with a double to left, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by 3B
Emma Yen, and scored when RF
Emily Kennedy lined an RBI single to center for a 1-0 advantage.
Middlebury answered immediately in the bottom half, evening the score on an RBI double by Livy Schultz (Natick, Mass.).
The Bobcats regained the lead in the fourth. Yen worked a one-out walk and advanced into scoring position, courtesy of a
Maddy Miller sac bunt, before Kennedy again delivered, this time with an ribbie single down the right-field line to put Bates back in front, 2-1.
Bates had opportunities to add insurance late, but Middlebury reliever Emily Dowd (Fairfield, Conn.)) settled in to earn the win (12-1), tossing six innings while allowing just one run and striking out six.
Middlebury finally broke through in the seventh. After a lead-off single and sacrifice bunt moved LF Katelyn Mikros (Glen Ridge, N.J.) into scoring position, Carroll delivered a two-out RBI single down the left-field line to force extra innings.
In the circle,
Brigid Gaffny (3-8) battled through seven strong innings for the garnet-and-white, allowing three earned runs on 11 total hits and a walk (four K's).
The Bobcats end the year at 17-19 overall. No. 6 Trinity takes on No. 3 Colby Saturday at noon with the winner playing Middlebury later at 5:00 p.m.
