Hamilton College's Natalie Beebe '24 recorded her seventh win in the circle and the Continentals split a pair of non-conference games at Legends Way Ballpark in Clermont, Fla., on Monday.
 
Hamilton (10-2 overall) handed nationally ranked No. 10 Tufts University its first loss in five games this season before the Continentals were edged 8-6 by Augustana College. Hamilton will be back in action on Saturday, March 26 at Loop Road Athletic Complex for its home opener against Clarkson University at 1 p.m.
 
Tufts
 
Kiana Arcayena '22 and Beebe went 3-for-3 at the plate and the Continentals scored nine runs on 11 hits. Ella Heftved '25, Arcayena, Samantha Smith '23 and Charlie Quinn '25 hit one double each and Smith walked twice.
 
Hamilton opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Heftved reached first on a Jumbos error with two outs. Arcayena guided a single through the left side and Beebe drove in Heftved with a single to right center.
 
The Continentals plated two runs in the second for a 3-0 advantage. Smith led off with a double into the gap in right center. Quinn found first base on a fielder's choice and Smith advanced to third base on a Tufts throwing error. Alessandra Priante '24 drove in Smith with a sacrifice fly and Katlynn McGivney '23 plated Quinn on a sacrifice bunt.
 
Tufts took a run back in the third when Michelle Adelman singed up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Josie Steinberg drove in Adelman with a double to left center.
 
Hamilton had its best inning in the bottom half of the third with five runs scored with two outs. Arcayena singled through the left side and Beebe roped a line drive up the middle. Smith drew a two-out walk to load the bases and Arcayena scampered home on a wild pitch. Quinn doubled to deep right field and scored both Smith and Beebe. Priante kept the rally going with a single through the right side, and Quinn scored on another Jumbo error. McGivney hit a hard single to shortstop and Priante scored on a Tufts throwing error for an 8-1 lead.
 
The Jumbos scored their second run in the fifth and tallied five runs in the sixth to cut Hamilton's lead to one run at 8-7. Lindsay Neumann singled to center with one out and Emma Jacobson followed with a single up the middle. Adelman found the left-center gap and drove in Neumann and Jacobson. After a Continentals pitching change, Kat Yuzefpols drew a walk and Steinberg cleared the bases with a double to left center.
 
The Continentals tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. Heftved doubled to right center with one out and Arcayena took a walk. Beebe stepped up to the plate and singled through the right side to score Heftved.
 
Down by two runs, Neumann produced a one-out double to right center and Jimenez singled to shortstop with two away. Emma Tansky '25 shut the door on the Jumbos with her second strikeout of the inning.
 
Tansky earned her first save after she allowed one run on three hits in 1.2 innings. Beebe, who kept the Tufts offense in check for five innings, allowed five earned runs on 10 hits and struck out four in 5.1 innings.
 
Augustana
 
The Vikings (9-2) rallied from a 6-1 deficit with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth and handed Hamilton its second loss of the season. The Continentals committed five errors and gave up three unearned runs.
 
Heftved went 3-for-3 with a triple and Quinn singled and doubled. Teagan Graham '25 started in the circle and allowed one unearned run on six hits in 3.2 innings. Graham struck out four batters and has fanned 14 in 11.2 innings.
 
Hamilton scored a run in the first and second innings. Heftved was hit by a pitch and Smith walked. Quinn hit a two-out single to left center and scored Heftved. In the second, McGivney reached first on a Vikings error and Heftved drove her in with a two-out triple to right field.
 
The Continentals plated two more runs in the fourth inning for a 4-1 lead. Priante led off with a walk and Heftved singled to right field. Beebe doubled to right center and scored Priante and Heftved.
 
Hamilton extended its lead to 6-1 with another two-run inning in the sixth. Priante wore a pitch to take first base and McGivney drew a walk. Priante stole third base and scored on a throwing error as McGivney advanced to third. Heftved collected her third hit with a hard single to right field that plated McGivney.
 
Augustana collected six runs on six hits and two Hamilton errors in the bottom of the inning. The Continentals were retired in order in the seventh.