In game one, on Friday, the Ephs showed no mercy to their perennial rivals, stomping out the Jeffs' hopes for lengthening their season. The weekend doubleheader did not end any better for the Jeffs, who saw Williams complete the season sweep in the final two games.
On Friday, the Jeffs went into battle with their playoff hopes in the balance. The game started with an RBI double by Libby Copeland-Halperin for the Ephs. She was then bunted in by Morgan Simpson, which gave Williams a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Junior second baseman Ralina Shaw willed the first run for the Jeffs in the second, as she knocked the ball out of the park for a solo homerun. The Ephs came back in the third as Copeland-Halperin and Simpson each hit singles to pick up a couple more RBIs, and brought the score to 4-1.
The fifth inning saw the Jeffs come through with some great defense as co-captain shortstop Annalise Rodli '07 put a stop to Eph baserunner Joey Lye, who tried to score from second on a Simpson grounder up the middle. The Ephs went on to spark two more runs in their half of the fifth to take a 6-1 advantage. In the sixth, the Jeffs were on the verge of mounting a comeback as junior catcher Elizabeth Neckes, Shaw and sophomore outfielder Holly Trace got the bases juiced via a pair of singles and a walk. Eph pitching by sophomore Emily Fowler-Cornfeld allowed Williams to get out of that jam and get the 6-2 victory on a run allowed late in the seventh.
Before the game, Shaw, Rodli, and senior third baseman Caroline Polales were recognized for their Amherst softball careers and what they had added to the softball community.
The Jeffs' final two games of the season were on Saturday, away at Williams. The season ended in disappointing fashion with Eph pitchers Simpson and Margaret Ryan stealing the show, pitching back to back complete game shutouts. The Jeffs came out strong in the first game, behind hits from first-year outfielder Jackie Tyler and Rodli. After getting out of that jam, Simpson took control, leading to a 4-0 victory. The Jeffs only had two hits in the second match, one being a lead-off single by Rodli in the first. Amherst saw Annalise Rodli go for three hits in her final day on the diamond, though the Jeffs did drop to 14-18 on the season and 4-8 in the NESCAC. Williams picked up its 11th Little Three title.
NESCAC Notes
This week the NESCAC Tournament will take place at Tufts University, the top seed. The Jumbos will face Wesleyan University. In the other bracket will be Williams and Trinity College. It is a double elimination tournament.