Hamilton College's Anna Rasmussen '21 had a big day at the plate and Natalie Beebe '24 pitched a complete game as the Continentals split a NESCAC West Division doubleheader with the Amherst College Mammoths at Hamilton's Loop Road Athletic Complex on Saturday.

The Continentals (3-4, 3-4 NESCAC) scored four runs in the first inning and banged out 16 hits in a 6-2 victory in the opener as they handed Amherst its first loss. The Mammoths jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings but needed a walkoff two-run homer by Randi Finkelstein to finally secure an 8-6 victory in the nightcap.

The two teams wrap up their three-game weekend series in Massachusetts on Sunday, April 18. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Game 1

Beebe allowed one earned run on nine hits and two walks in seven innings. She struck out five and improved her record to 2-0 as she lowered her earned run average to 3.27.

Five hitters recorded three hits each for Hamilton. Rasmussen led the way with three singles and three runs batted in. She leads the Continentals with 12 RBI and .786 slugging percentage. Both Beebe and Samantha Smith '23 registered two singles and a double. Kiana Arcayena '22 and Shelby McVey '22 finished with three singles apiece. 

Hamilton's first inning began with Katlynn McGivney '23 reaching base on an infield error. They loaded the bases on Beebe's single to right field and a bunt base hit by Arcayena. A single up the middle by Rasmussen drove in the first two runs and another single up the middle by Smith reloaded the bases. Yet another single up the middle by McVey brought in two more runs and made it 4-0 before any outs had been recorded.

The Continentals increased their lead to five runs in the second inning when Beebe hit a one-out double and scored on Rasmussen's two-out single to center. Hamilton scored its final run in the fourth as Rasmussen led off with a single to left and came around on a double to left center by Smith.

Amherst (6-1, 4-1) finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning with two runs on three hits and an error. Beebe allowed just a two-out single in the seventh before she wrapped up her second complete game with a strikeout.

Game 2

The Continentals' offense was led by Rasmussen and Vicky Dunn '22. Rasmussen singled and doubled and Dunn singled and tripled. Rasmussen is hitting .464 and has five multi-hit games.

The Mammoths were led by Maddie Procyk, who went 3-for-3 with two homers and five RBI and pitched a complete game in the circle. She allowed two earned runs and improved to 4-0.

Hamilton started its comeback in the fourth inning on the second home run this season by Arcayena – a solo shot to left center that led off the inning. Amherst restored its five-run lead with a homer in the bottom of the inning.

The Continentals scored four runs in the sixth and pulled within 6-5. They loaded the bases with two outs on an infield error, a catcher's interference call and a walk. McVey plated two runs with a single to left and Madison Hinojos '24 slammed a double to center field that brought in two more runs.

Hamilton tied the score in the seventh inning. Dunn led off with a single through the right side and McGivney was hit by a pitch. Dunn was erased on a fielder's choice and the next batter fouled out to the left fielder before Rasmussen's two-out double down the left field line scored McGivney.

The Mammoths quickly ended the game in their half of the seventh with a single and Finkelstein's two-run homer over the fence in left center.