![](https://www.hamilton.edu/assets/mmlibrary/images/original/20140409_softballvscaz_024.jpg)
The Hamilton College Continentals split a non-conference doubleheader against the St. Lawrence University Saints at Saints Softball Field on Sunday afternoon, holding on for a 6-4 win in game two after losing the opener, 8-3.
The Continentals’ 13 wins this spring are two short of the school record set in 1996.
Hamilton (13-22 overall) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the nightcap and withstood a rally in which the Saints brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Sarah Moore ’16 drove in three runs including a two-RBI double during the Continentals’ three-run sixth inning. Hannah Staab ’17 went four for five and scored two runs.
Kelly Leonard ’15 allowed three earned runs and improved to 8-12 with her 14th complete game. Leonard carried a four-hit shutout into the sixth before the Saints used seven hits to close to within 6-4.
Rebecca Allen ’14 singled home Aisha O’Connor ’15, who led off with an infield hit. One out later, Nicole Matthews ‘17, Cailyn Welsh ‘14, Carly Dziekan ‘17, Natasha Bell ’14 and Leslie Stratton ’14 recorded five straight singles to plate four runners and bring the go-ahead run to the plate with runners on first and second base. Leonard picked up the last out of the inning and retired the Saints’ third, fourth and fifth hitters in order in the seventh.
Sam Miller ’14 drove in the Continentals’ first run with a bases-loaded groundout and Moore followed with a sacrifice fly. In the fifth inning, Miller led off with a single and came around to score on a single by Becca Butler ’17. An inning later, Miller singled home Jenn Rougeux ’14 and Moore followed with a double to left that scored Staab and Ellie Kiernan '15. Miller finished with three hits.
In the opener, the Saints (12-23) scored eight times in their first three at bats and held the Continentals scoreless until the fifth inning. Kiernan put Hamilton on the board in the fifth with a two-out, two-run double. In their final at bat, the Continentals put runners on first and third with one out on a leadoff single by Talia Mercado ’15 and an error that allowed Staab to reach base. Mercado scored on a groundout by Leonard before the Saints ended Hamilton’s threat.
Allen’s three-run homer in the first inning highlighted St. Lawrence’s offense and she added an RBI single in the Saints’ three-run second. O’Connor, who had three of St. Lawrence’s 12 hits, and Matthews also contributed run-scoring singles in the second inning. Allen, Matthews and Bell finished with two hits each.
A two-run, pinch-hit single by Kelly Burke ’17 in the third inning closed out St. Lawrence’s scoring. Leonard held the Saints scoreless on two hits after the third inning.