In the nightcap, the Jeffs started pitcher Maddie Tamagni '09, hoping to salvage a 1-1 exchange in this doubleheader. The game did not start out in the Jeffs' favor as they fell behind four runs in the initial inning due to four consecutive hits by the Cougars, including three doubles. Amherst cut into the lead in the second inning, once they were down 6-0. Tamagni helped to start a Jeff rally in the third with some great pitching, crossing out three Cougar batters in a row. Tamagni's successful inning of pitching inspired second baseman Ralina Shaw '08 who hit a two run bomb in bottom of the third to bring Amherst back into the game. The Jeffs finished the inning down by two. In the sixth, the Jeffs tied things up at 7-7 with a homerun by Neill. This carried the game into extra innings where the Cougars got the best of the Jeffs, scoring two runs in the eighth, only one of which Amherst was able to match. The game ended in a 9-8 Jeff loss.
After an unsuccessful series against Clark, the Jeffs traveled to Middletown, Conn. to face Little Three rival Wesleyan University. Despite being defeated in the Clark series, the Jeffs went into their first conference away game of the season up 3-0 in league play. First-year pitcher Alex Chang-Graham carried the Jeffs well into the fifth inning before falling to a Cardinal offensive onslaught. Wesleyan banged in five runs in the bottom of the fifth to gain a strong lead on the Jeffs. Though Amherst battled back with four runs, the Jeffs did not have enough in the tank to pull out a victory and were served their first conference loss, 7-4.
The Jeffs took to the field again on Saturday for a doubleheader against the Cardinals. This time Amherst had home field advantage. In the first game, Amherst took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning off of a double by outfielder Elizabeth Neckes '08 due to a Cardinal throwing error. This lead did not last long as the Cardinals picked up a pair of runs in the third inning, putting them ahead 2-1. This caused the Jeffs to go to the bullpen, bringing out Samantha Miller '08 to get them out of the inning. Miller picked up a ground ball to get the force out at home and saved Amherst from the bases-loaded, one-out pinch that they were stuck in. Wesleyan pushed ahead in the top of the fifth, and was able to hold on behind some clutch hurling by pitcher Karla Hargrave, earning a 3-1 victory.
In the second game, the Cardinals went up quick, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning, behind a Molly Gaebe three-run homerun. Amherst attempted to close the gap in the first with one run batted in by Neill and a score off of a bunt by first-year centerfielder Jackie Tyler. The Jeffs finally got it rolling in the third inning, stacking up four runs and gaining a 6-4 lead. As in the previous game, the Jeffs called on Miller to attempt to stop the bleeding in the fourth inning after the Cardinals loaded the bases with no outs, but the Cardinals went up 7-6. The Jeffs battled back in their half of the frame bringing the game to a tie. More action arrived in the fifth with a two-run homer by Wesleyan followed by two more runs from Amherst, leaving the game knotted up at 9-9. The Jeffs finally broke down in the seventh and miscued, allowing two Cardinal runs. Then, as untimely as could be, Amherst suffered from their only inning of the game in which they were unable to put in a run, falling in the contest 11-9.
Yesterday, The Jeffs finally broke out of their loosing streak in a game on the road against Worchester Polytechnic Institute. The game was scoreless until Amherst put two runs on the board in the third inning. WPI answered with one run. The Goats went on to tie the game in the sixth inning. However, the Jeffs challenged WPI, pulling ahead by one in the top of the seventh. The Goats were unable to answer, and Amherst came away with a 3-2 win.
Tuesday's victory over Western New England College was even more impressive. With WNEC's two-spot in the first inning the sole blemish, Chang-Graham breezed through the lineup, going the distance for the Jeffs. After giving up a two-run single to WNEC's Meredith Pacelli, Chang-Graham struck out the side in the first and gave up just one hit the rest of the way.
First-year catcher Anne Kelly got one run back for the Jeffs almost immediately, leading of the second inning with a home run. The Jeffs threantened again in the third, with runners on second and third with no outs, but WNEC hurler Laura Bower struck out the side to get out the jam unharmed.
Amherst momentarily took the lead in the bottom of the sixth, when Neill belted a two-run homer. It was later changed to a triple, re-tying the game, when the umpire ruled that Neill had not touched home plate.
Pitcher Julia Cummings '09 picked her teammate up when she ripped an RBI double to help the Jeffs retake the lead. Rodli drove in the final two runs with an RBI single.
Although the Jeffs suffered a rough week, coming up short in many close games, they appear to have regained momentum with two straight victories. "We are really glad to have bounced back after a few rough games," said Chang-Graham.
On the slate this week are doubleheaders against Westfield State and Brandeis Universities. Stated Chang-Graham, "We hope to carry this momentum into the weekend."
NESCAC Notes
Trinity College currently leads the NESCAC East with a conference record of 4-1. Amherst is third in the NESCAC West, trailing first-ranked Wesleyan and second-place Williams College.