Posting a 5-4 record after playing a hectic schedule on their spring break trip to Ft. Myers, Fla., the softball team got a few days to catch their breath before they returned to action in New England on March 28. However, since returning to the spring chill of Western Mass, the Jeffs have substantially picked up their play and improved their record to 11-6. Many of the challengers the Jeffs faced on the trip were non-league opponents, which allowed Amherst to gain valuable experience in preparation for their upcoming games against NESCAC rivals later in the season.

On March 28, the Jeffs traveled to Worcester to pick up a 5-2 win over Clark University, who had previously posted an impressive 8-1 record. Pitching sensation Lauren Peloquin '02 earned another complete game victory, improving her record to 6-2. Although Clark was charged with four errors on the afternoon, Amherst was hot offensively, led by co-captain catcher Becca Binder '02 who went a perfect 3-3 at the plate. First baseman Katie Honderd '05 and right-fielder Tamara Baer '03 both went 2-4, with Honderd earning two RBIs and Baer earning a single RBI.

Two days later the Jeffs faced the challenge of playing a double-header against NESCAC West Division rival Middlebury College in their home opener. But the Jeffs were undaunted and swept the series with a 3-0 shutout in the opener and a 4-3 extra innings win in the evening.

Peloquin once again dominted her first game, striking out 10 and allowing only two hits on her way to the shutout. The Jeffs pounded out 10 hits, paced by Peloquin, standout slugger Gina Scriber '04 and newcomer third baseman Jessica Allen '04 with two hits each. Scribner, Allen and pinch-hitter Elizabeth Staunton '05 each singled and scored in the third and sixth innings.

The evening game proved to be a battle for both teams, with the score knotted at 2-2 at the end of regulation. Emily Melia '03 began the game on the mound for Amherst and pitched three shutout innings, despite being drilled in the chest by a line-drive in the first. Melia switched to second base in the fourth inning while Peloquin once again took the mound. In the bottom of the inning, Binder stepped up and drove in a pair of runs with a triple. However, after a lengthy pitch count by Peloquin, Middlebury was able to get a run in the sixth and seventh innings to even the score at two.

Middlebury once again put the pressure on Amherst in the top of the eighth, where each team starts with a runner on second base. They scored once, but Amherst answered right back in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double by Scribner and a game winning single by Baer to seal the victory. Peloquin improved her pitching record to 8-2 on the day, while Amherst improved its NESCAC record to a perfect 4-0.

The following Monday, the Jeffs took on Smith College in another doubleheader, which they split with one win a piece. In the first game, despite a two-hit performance by Peloquin, the Jeffs could not seem to muster any offense and Smith was finally able to score off the star pitcher in the sixth and seventh and walk away with a 2-0 win.

The second game did not start out too well for the Jeffs either, as they once again found themselves trailing 4-1 in the seventh inning. However, they fought back, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh to cap off a dramatic 5-4 win. Peloquin came in as relief for Melia in the last three innings and improved her pitching record to 9-3. Baer pounded out the game winning two-run double as shortstop Missy Mordy '03 and Allen each had two hits for Amherst.

Facing Brandeis the following Thursday, the Jeffs were much less on their game and fell 7-1, despite an 11 strikeout complete game performance by Peloquin, who fell to 9-4 on the season. Brandeis starter Erin Powers limited the Jeffs to only five hits, a pair to Mordy, and one hit apiece to Melia and Erin Dittus '03.

Amherst bounced back strong the following Saturday when they traveled to Middletown, Conn., and swept NESCAC rival Wesleyan University, 4-3 and 7-4, in another doubleheader. Peloquin picked up another complete game victory in the opener to improve her record to 10-4, while Melia pitched her first win of the season in the nightcap. Peloquin took the save in the latter game and posted two hits in each game, while Melia was almost unstoppable at the plate and pounded out six hits on the afternoon. Scribner went 3-4 in game one, while Mordy added a double and a single in game two as Amherst improved their record to 11-6 overall.

"We had a bit of trouble getting up for our game against Brandeis University on Friday," said Peloquin, "but we were able to refocus and come back the next day ready to go. As a result, we wound up taking two from Wesleyan."

Peloquin noted Della Huff '04 and Greta Anderson '05 for their exceptional defense in the outfield, while mentioning Scribner, Melia and Baer as being key hitters.

Huff also praised her team. "Our ability to rally is indicative of our outlook for the rest of the season," she said. "I think we have a great shot at winning our division and hosting the NESCAC tournament later this spring."

Huff's teammate analyzed the group's performance. "When we don't play well as a team it is because we aren't focused as a team, not because we're lacking in skill," said Peloquin. "We were missing that focus on Friday. With a little effort we got it back for Saturday and I believe that we are going to retain it for the rest of the season."

The Jeffs are set to take on nearby rival Mt. Holyoke College at Hill Field this afternoon at 3:30 p.m.