Amherst's first contest shaped up to be a pitchers' duel with Clark on March 29. On the mound for the Jeffs was Lauren Peloquin '02. Peloquin went into the game sporting a spotless 5-0 record with 59 K's in 35 innings pitched with an ERA of 0.00. On the rubber for Clark was their ace Aimee Lee (6-1 with an ERA of 0.34).
The entirety of the Amherst offensive output occurred in the bottom of the second, when Lee ran into trouble as Gina Scribner '04 lead off with a double and later scored from second on a mishandled sacrifice bunt from Emily Melia '03. Melia would later plate on a Peloquin single to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Jeffs. Peloquin later scored on an RBI single from outfielder Tamara Baer '03.
In the fifth inning Peloquin showed signs of mortality as she let up her first earned run and had her first wild pitch of the season. With the score 3-1 (after a throwing error in the fourth allowed a run for Clark) Jessica Tarrington launched a double over the left fielder's head, passed to third on a groundout and later scored on the wild pitch. The game was on the line with the tying run on first (walk) and junior Kiley Maguire at the plate. The threat was ended when Erin Dittus '03 grabbed a hard liner off Maguire's bat to close the inning.
From there Peloquin shut down the Cougars, finishing with 10 K's on the day. Co-captain Meg Nelson '01 also notched a hit.
Next up for the women was a day/ night double-header against crosstown rival Smith College (4-6) on April 2. The Jeffs stole a close one from Smith starter Kelly Redness in the first game, 1-0. Peloquin again took the rubber for the Jeffs and had a superb day earning her seventh complete game of the season and her fifth shutout. She fanned another 11 batters-upping her season total to 80 K's-had one of the four Amherst hits and scored the game winning run. In addition, she was named NESCAC Player of the Week earlier in the day.
The Jeffs won the game in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the seventh as Peloquin strolled home from third on center fielder Dittus' RBI single. Smith could not get anything done as they were hampered by sloppy play, matching their three hits with three errors.
The teams weren't quite as sharp for the nightcap, totaling 19 combined runs, thirteen hits, eight errors (six of them by the Pioneers) and would leave seven runners on base each. Regardless, Amherst was again victorious 8-5.
On the mound again for Smith was Redness; Amherst started Melia (2-4) but Peloquin would come in in the sixth to seal the deal, earning the save.
Swinging well for Amherst was Nelson (2-4 with an RBI), Scribner (2-4 with two RBI's) and Peloquin (3-3 with three RBI's).
The now 10-4 Amherst softball squad next took on Mount Holyoke, another non-league matchup. The game was again a close one, but the Jeffs were victorious, 2-0. Peloquin got the nod again and earned her sixth shutout and eighth victory of the season.
The Amherst offense outhit the Lyons seven to three but could not capitalize on their opportunities. At the plate the Jeffs were led by Nelson, who had two hits, and got help from fellow Co-captain Carline Kelley '01, Scribner, Peloquin and Della Huff '04, each with one hit.
Lyons starter Laura Pollet was impressive at the start, but things unraveled in the fourth when Kelly broke up the no hitter with a single, was moved over with a sac bunt by Missy Mordy '03 and plated by Nelson for the game wining run. Scribner later knocked in Huff for an insurance run in the sixth.
On April 7 the Jeffs earned their fifth win in a row with a dominating performance over WPI, taking the win 7-0. Melia was on the mound for Amherst again and turned in a top notch performance. The one-hit shutout was accomplished in only 60 pitches as Melia improved her record to 4-4 and the Jeffs' record to an impressive 11-4.
The offense was led by Kelly, who in the first two innings had a double and an RBI triple. Also knocking in runs for the Jeffs were Dittus, Baer, Scribner and catcher Becca Binder '02.
Yesterday, in the Jeffs' most recent game, they smoked Brandeis University, 8-0. Peloquin continued her dominance, this time throwing a no-hitter. In five innings of work, Peloquin struck out 10 batters, walked one and hit another with a pitch. With the win Peloquin ran her record to 9-0.
On offense the Jeffs were led by Kelly and Melia. Kelly, the leadoff batter for the Jeffs, went two for three with three RBI's and one run scored. Melia also went two for three, and she added an RBI and two runs scored.
Binder and Baer had identical lines in the game, each going one for three with an RBI and two runs scored. Binder laced a triple down the right field line, while Baer reached on a double.
The Jeffs will look to extend their win streak when they host Trinity, their first division opponent since their return to Massachusetts from Florida, tomorrow for a double-header, followed by a twinbill against Tufts on Saturday.