In their season opener, the Jeffs suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 extra-inning loss to Babson College, despite a 13 strikeout performance by Peloquin. The Jeffs took the lead early when when Missy Mordy '03 doubled, advanced to third on an error and scored on a sac fly by Peloquin. However, Babson tied the game on an unearned run in the fifth. The Jeffs were unable to capitalize on their chances and eventually lost the game in eight innings.
According to NCAA tiebreaker rules, each team starts every extra inning with a runner on second base. Amherst failed to score in the top of the eighth, but Babson was able to advance their runner to third on a sac bunt and score her on a sac fly in their half of the inning.
Amherst rebounded the following day with a close 6-5 win over NESCAC rival Bowdoin. All six Amherst runs were scored in the top of the first inning on the strength of a string of base hits by Peloquin, Scribner, co-captain Becca Binder '02 and second basemen Emily Melia '04. Peloquin tallied her first win as Amherst took the victory.
However, the Jeffs were unable to produce much offense in the second game of the double-header and, despite a sterling effort from Melia, fell to St. Lawrence, 6-1.
However, the Jeffs quickly regained their winning record the following day with another double-header and a pair of victories over Lasell and Dickinson, 8-0 and 5-1, respectively. Peloquin claimed two complete game victories in addition to fanning a total of 19 batters on the day.
In the opener, outfielder Tamara Baer '03 put the Jeffs on the board in the third with a two-run single. Outfielder Erin Dittus '03 and infielder Kristin Bradley '05 also added runs in the fourth inning en route to the shutout. In the night game against Dickinson, Peloquin set the pace early with a RBI single in the first. Despite a brief deadlock at 1-1, the game was sealed on Scribner's grand slam home run in the fifth.
The following day, the Jeffs couldn't hang on against Cazenovia College. Scribner put the first runs of the game on the board with a two-run homer. But in the fifth inning, starting pitcher Peloquin injured her knee and was forced to the dugout. Melia couldn't hang on to the lead in relief and the Jeffs fell 5-2.
The Jeffs finished off the trip with a pair of wins over Framingham State and Southern Maine, upping their record to 5-3. Peloquin, rebounding from the knee laceration she suffered the previous day, enjoyed her second day of two complete-game victories. Her first win, against Southern Maine, was deadlocked at one until Baer scored the winning run on a go-ahead sac fly. Peloquin fanned seven and allowed six hits, while Melia, playing second base, finished one-for-two, with an RBI. Melia also went two-for-four the following day, as did the shortstop Mordy, as Amherst pounded out 11 hits to squeak by Framingham State 5-4.
The Jeffs took on Plymouth State College in their final game of the trip on March 22. The Jeffs walked away with a 4-0 loss that gave the Jeffs a 5-4 record to end the break. Scribner was the only Jeff to reach base with a single in the seventh inning.
The Jeffs had a game scheduled yesterday against Brandeis University that was rained out. Tomorrow, the Jeffs will take on Clark in a home game. They will take on Middlebury College on Saturday in a doubleheader between two NESCAC rivals.