SPRINGFIELD — Cedar Blazek had six RBI in the nightcap of a twinbill Wednesday, helping Williams College to a 12-5 win and a split of its doubleheader with Western New England College.
The split moved the Ephs to 17-14-1 on the season heading into a key three-game series with archrival Amherst that begins Friday in Amherst at 4:15 p.m. and continues with a Saturday doubleheader in Williamstown starting at noon.
After losing the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader, the Ephs fell behind 3-0 after one inning of the nightcap,but quickly rebounded, scoring seven times in the second and five more in the third to build an insurmountable advantage.
In the big second inning, Williams had a runner on first with two outs and no runs in. Merrilee Weston singled to continue the frame, and senior captain Caitlyn Cain ripped a single through the middle to score the first run. Theresa Legan followed with a single that loaded the bases and Kaitlin Dinet folowed with a shot in the hole at shortstop that she beat out for an RBI-single.
A balk allowed Cain to score the tying run and, after a walk to first year Ally Ensor, Blazek launched a shot into the left-center field gap, clearing the bases and giving Williams a 6-3 lead. First year Ali Garebner walked and stole second as Blazek stole third, with Blazek scoring the final run of the inning on a throwing error.
Dinet, getting a rare start from the circle, set the WNEC side down in order and the Ephs were quickly at it again from the dish. Cain led off the third with a single and stole second base. Legan walked and Dinet singled to short again to load the bases. Ensor was hit by a pitch to make it 8-3 Williams, and Blazek followed with a second straight shot into the left-center field gap, clearing the bases once again and giving the Ephs an 11-3 cushion. Graebner followed by doubling home Blazek.
Dinet earned the win, going five inning and allowing four hits and three walks while fanning three. Cain and Dinet were each 3 for 4 in the victory and Blazek 2 for 4 with her 6 RBI.
In the opener, the Ephs trailed 1-0 early before a solo homer from Ensor tied the score. WNEC took the lead back in the third when a run scored on a passed ball. It was 3-1 Golden Bears until the top fo the sixth, when Ensor doubled and scored on a double by Blazek.
Eph sophomore Megan Casey took the loss, tossing six innings and allowing seven hits while walking five and striking out nine. Legan and Ensor were both 2 for 3 for the Ephs.
