Box
Score
AMHERST, MA — Williams outhit archrival Amherst 9-2 Friday
afternoon, but could not beat the Lord Jeffs on the scoreboard,
dropping a 3-1 decision and falling behind Amherst and Wesleyan in
the NESCAC's West Division.
Amherst improved to 19-6 overall, 7-3 in the NESCAC West while
Williams fell to 13-15 overall and 6-4 in the conference. The two
teams play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. in
Williamstown.
An RBI-double by Amherst junior Emily Neill proved to be the
biggest hit of the day, as the Jeffs scored three runs in the
bottom of the first inning after surrendering one in the top half
of the frame. Neither team would cross the plate in the final six
innings of what turned into a pitchers' duel between the
squads' two aces. Williams committed three errors on the day,
while the hosts didn't commit any.
Williams senior shortstop Joey Lye led off the game with a single
to center field, stole second base and advanced to third on an
infield hit. Lye gave her team an early 1-0 lead when she came
around to score on an suicide squeeze by senior Morgan Simpson, but
that would be the Ephs' final run of the day.
Amherst's three runs in the first inning came on only one
hit. After Maddie Tamagni was hit by a pitch, first-year Carly
Dudzik walked with only one out to set up Neill's big hit.
The double to right center scored Tamagni to tie the game, while an
errant throw from the outfield made its way to the backstop and
allowed Dudzik to score the eventual game winner. Neill also scored
in the inning on a sacrifice fly by first-year Stephanie Clegg.
Williams starting pitcher Mary Beth Daub and Lord Jeff starter
Alex Chang-Graham each got into a rhythm and retired eight
consecutive batters heading into the fourth inning. While the Ephs
threatened several times in the later innings, Amherst could never
figure out Daub, who struck out seven, walked one and allowed only
two hits in six innings. Daub struck out the side in the third
inning—all looking—and began the fourth with another
backwards-K.
The Ephs had runners on first and second with one out in the fifth
after Lye put down a bunt singl and Caitlyn Cain grounded a single
through the left side. But a groundout forced Lye at third and
Chang-Graham got Simpson to fly out to center to end the threat.
In the Williams sixth, senior Emily Fowler-Cornfeld led off with
a double. With one out, Allison Hart singled to move pinch runner
Jess Cross to third. Chang-Graham then induced a groundout to the
mound to hold the runners. First-year Oriana Mcgee then ripped a
line drive to center, but it was flagged down by Amherst center
fielder Jackie Tyler.
Chang-Graham improved to 15-2 on the season, while Daub dropped to
6-5 with the tough-luck loss. The Amherst ace struck out two and
walked none in the win, surrendering only one run on nine hits.
Lye, Fowler-Cornfeld and Hart each had two hits for the Ephs.
