The Hamilton College Continentals came away winless on a day when they played a rare tripleheader in Clermont, Fla., on March 19.
Babson Box Score
WCSU Box Score
Tufts Box Score
Hamilton (1-3 overall) was edged 5-4 by Babson College (receiving votes in the latest Division III Top 25 coaches poll), fell 7-1 against Western Connecticut State University and dropped an 8-3 decision against nationally ranked No. 2 Tufts University.
Against Babson, Monique St. Jarre ’15 (0-1) took the loss, throwing a complete game and allowing only five hits and one earned run.
Babson (7-2) got on the board first, scoring in the first and second innings. Leadoff hitter Maya Lacey walked and with two outs Emily Morris hit a single, pushing her across the plate.
In the second, Katie Guido was hit by a pitch, followed by Catherine Pitts who hit into a fielder’s choice. On the play at second base, the ball was misplayed, allowing both runners to be safe. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice and Guido was out at third on a throw from shortstop Ellie Kiernan ’15. Lacey was walked and Christa Shorette scored all three runners with a double. Caitie Benoit pushed Shorette across the plate with another double. All four runs were unearned.
Hamilton chipped away at the Beavers’ lead in the third. Kiernan led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a bunt by Hannah Staab ’17 and scored on a misplayed ball by the shortstop off the bat of Jenn Rougeux ’14.
Neither team scored again until the top of the seventh when Hamilton’s bats came alive. With one out, Talia Mercado ’15 singled to the left-center field fence, followed by a single by Kiernan. Staab continued the streak with a double that plated Mercado and Kiernan. Rougeux followed with a single that scored Staab. Olivia Gozdz ’16 reached on an infield error and Sam Miller ’14 grounded into a double play to end the game.
Against Western Connecticut State (6-4), the Colonials pulled away with seven runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. They had 11 hits off Kelly Leonard ’15 (1-2) and five of their runs were earned. Staab, Gozdz, Miller, St. Jarre, Leonard and Becca Butler ’17 had the hits for the Continentals. Leonard had the lone RBI with a double to the fence that scored Gozdz, who was walked.
Leonard took the loss against NESCAC East Division opponent Tufts (6-1) in the nightcap, giving up nine hits in three innings and six earned runs. The Jumbos scored five runs in the bottom of the second on a leadoff single, followed by another base hit and back-to-back walks. Chrissie Massrey cleared the bases with a double to the fence and scored on a double by Michelle Cooprider. The Jumbos scored twice more in the third.
Hamilton chipped away at its deficit with three runs in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Mercado reached on an error by the pitcher that pushed Miller across the plate. Becca Ryan ’17 hit a pinch-hit double to right center that drove in Leonard and St. Jarre.
St. Jarre entered the game in relief of Leonard in the fourth inning. After walking the first batter who later scored on a double to right field, she had a solid performance in the circle, allowing only two hits in three innings.
(Story courtesy Liz Slupinski)
