The softball team opened NESCAC play this past weekend, as they took on Hamilton College in a three-game series. Though they were outplayed in both of the first two games, the Jeffs never gave up and were able to pull off their first NESCAC victory of the season in the final game of the series.
The Jeffs were slated to begin conference play two weekends ago in a home doubleheader against Middlebury College. However, both matches were delayed (as well as their subsequent game against Clark College) due to inclement weather. Thus, Hamilton represented the Jeffs’ first conference test. The team’s focus going into the series was on hitting and aggressiveness.
“Our goals were to win all three games, and to be aggressive at the plate … We had a lot of hitting practices this past week, and we also did some inter-squad scrimmaging,” said senior tri-captain Liz Neckes.
The team did just that, racking up eight hits in their first match-up—one more than its opponent. However, the Jeffs couldn’t connect when it counted, stranding eight women on base. Though pitcher Alex Chang-Graham ’10 exhibited excellent control and only walked one batter in her six innings pitched, Hamilton got their hits when it counted and defeated the Jeffs, 6-1.
The next morning saw the Jeffs invigorated and ready to play. Once again, Amherst stepped up to the plate with confidence and got some early hits. Though the Jeffs tallied more hits than their opponent (10 total), the clutch factor was almost non-existent and they left a total of nine runners on base, in comparison to Hamilton’s four.
Hamilton had a huge fourth inning, scoring seven of their eight runs to give themselves a 7-0 lead. Despite the Jeffs’ success at the plate, they were forced to play catch-up, and Hamilton hung on for another win by a score of 8-4.
As the Amherst squad stepped on the field for the final game of the weekend, they were determined to grab a conference win. Sophomore outfielder Jackie Tyler led off the game with a single to left field, which would set the tone of the game for Amherst. Though Tyler eventually made it to third with only one out, Amherst failed to get her home, and the game remained scoreless. Hamilton pulled ahead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring two runs off of three hits.
Amherst would have none of it, and quickly responded in the third inning with two runs of its own sparked by hits from Tyler, Neckes and first-year pitcher and infielder Samantha Presnal.
From then on, the Jeffs cruised through the game. The pitching staff held Hamilton to three hits and no runs through the next four innings of play. Amherst exploded once again in the fourth inning, scoring five runs. The barrage this time was led by sophomore infielder Emily Neill’s three-run homer. The game ended in an 8-2 Amherst victory.
“It was crucial that we won a game for our NESCAC record,” said Neckes, “and also to prove to ourselves that we have the character to come back against a team and win after losing twice.”
Tyler leads the Jeffs in batting average (.514), while Neill has totaled the most RBIs at 12. Chang-Graham improved her ERA in the final game of the series, allowing just two runs in seven innings and racking up an impressive five strikeouts.
If the Jeffs want to continue to win, they must maintain their hitting proficiency and improve their confidence at the plate with runners in scoring position.
Added Neckes, “Before our next games, we need to refocus and have solid fielding practices so that we feel confident and natural in our double-header against Westfield.”
Of the Jeffs’ remaining 11 series, six of them will count towards the West division standings. The head-to-head games will give them ample opportunity to improve on their current second-place position.