The Hamilton College Continentals split their NESCAC West Division doubleheader with the Middlebury College Panthers at Hamilton's Loop Road Athletic Complex on Friday.
 
The Continentals (14-8, 2-4 NESCAC West) edged Middlebury 6-5 in their last at-bat in Game 2. Hamilton scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning only to have the Panthers put up their own five-spot in the sixth. The Continentals won it in the seventh.
 
Middlebury (12-8, 4-4) scored two runs in the top of the first inning and led the whole way in its 6-2 victory in the opener. The Panthers added single runs in the third and fifth and two more in the sixth. Hamilton scored its runs in the fifth inning.
 
Game 2
 
Kiana Arcayena '22 drove in Ella Heftved '25 for the game-winning run on a one-out double over the right fielder's head as the sunlight faded at the Continentals' softball field. Alessandra Priante '24 led off with a single through the left side but was erased at second base on Heftved's ground ball to third. Heftved promptly stole second and Arcayena drove the 0-1 pitch to deep right.
 
Arcayena finished with two hits and Heftved led the way with three including a double. Priante ended up with two singles. Natalie Beebe '24 (10-3) pitched the last 1.1 innings and recorded all four outs via strikeout. Emma Tansky '25 started in the circle and didn't give up any runs in the first five innings. Tansky ended up surrendering two runs on six hits and three walks, and struck out two batters in five-plus innnings.
 
Charlie Quinn '25 led off Hamilton's five-run third inning with a walk and Katlynn McGivney '23 drew a one-out walk. Tansky loaded the bases with an infield single, and Priante smacked a two-run single to right field. Heftved's double to center drove in two more runs, Arcayena hit an infield single and Shelby McVey '22 scored Heftved with a ground ball to second base.
 
Game 1
 
The Panthers hit three home runs and Noelle Ruschil led the offense with three hits, including a triple and a round-tripper. Abby Santis led off the game with a homer, Ruschil added a solo shot in the third and Tori Papaleo hit a two-run blast in the sixth after the Continentals had pulled within 4-2.
 
Tansky paced Hamilton's offense with three singles and McGivney and Samantha Smith '23 chipped in two hits apiece. Smith led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and Tansky followed with a one-out infield single. Smith scored on a passed ball and Tansky came home on a throwing error by the catcher after she stole third base.