Hamilton College's Natalie Beebe '24 pitched a gem and the Continentals split a non-conference doubleheader with the Skidmore College Thoroughbreds at Hamilton's Loop Road Athletic Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Hamilton (13-7 overall) snapped its three-game losing streak with a 4-3 win in the opener. The Continentals took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Continentals return to NESCAC West Division play on Friday, April 15 with a doubleheader against Middlebury College at home starting at 3:30 p.m.
 
Skidmore (17-7), which is a member of the Liberty League, took the nightcap by a score of 6-5. The Thoroughbreds scored three runs in the first inning, eventually opened up a 6-1 advantage, and then held on as Hamilton scored four runs in the seventh.
 
Game 1
 
The first game was a pitcher's duel as neither team crossed home plate until the bottom of the fourth inning. Emma Tansky '25 led the Continentals' offense with two hits. Kiana Arcayena '22 and Beebe drove in two runs apiece. Alessandra Priante '24, Shelby McVey '22, Samantha Smith '23 and Madison Hinojos '24 tallied one hit each.
 
Beebe (9-2) earned her ninth win in the circle as she tied a season high with eight strikeouts in a complete game effort. She allowed three unearned runs on five hits and issued two intentional walks.
 
Hamilton struck first with two runs in the fourth. Ella Heftved '25 drew a walk, stole second base and advanced to third on a two-out infield single by McVey. Beebe drove in both runners on a double to deep right center.
 
Skidmore took the lead in the top of the fifth with three runs. With two outs, Melissa Mathias reached first base on an error, and Hannah Davis singled up the middle. Kaitlyn Judd doubled to right center and scored Mathias and Davis. Judd advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Katie Anderson's double to left center.
 
The Continentals quickly regained the lead for good in the bottom half of the fifth. Hinojos led off with a single to left center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Priante. Tansky singled to second base and Hinojos went to third. After Tansky stole second, Heftved drew a walk that loaded the bases, and Arcayena plated Tansky and Hinojos with a single through the right side.
 
Skidmore managed just one baserunner in its last two at-bats, including a runner on second base in the sixth inning. Beebe retired the last six batters in order.
 
Game 2
 
As the sun was quickly setting, the Continentals rallied with four runs in the bottom of the seventh, but ultimately came up one run short. Tansky guided Hamilton at the plate with three hits, and Arcayena tallied two hits and a run batted in. Charlie Quinn '25 went 2-for-4, while Priante, Heftved, McVey, Emma Tomlins '23 and Smith collected one hit each. Teagan Graham '25 delivered her first complete game in the circle while fanning three.
 
Skidmore jumped out to a three-run lead in the top of the first but Hamilton got one back in the third. Quinn led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Priante stepped up to the plate and roped a single up the middle that scored Quinn.
 
The Thoroughbreds added two runs in the fifth inning for a 5-1 cushion. The Continentals had two runners in scoring position with two outs in the bottom half, but Skidmore's Lindsey Raimondi was able to get a popup to end the inning. Skidmore plated its final run in the top of the seventh.
 
Hamilton put its rally caps on for the final frame. Smith led off with a double to left center and advanced to third on an infield single by Tansky. Heftved plated Smith on a single to left field and moved into scoring position on the throw. Arcayena reached base on a hard-hit single through the right side that plated Tansky, and McVey hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Heftved. Beebe drew a walk and with two on, Quinn bounced a single to third base that eventually forced a throwing error, and Arcayena scampered home. With the winning run on second base, Raimondi finally shut down the comeback with her sixth strikeout.