CLERMONT, Fla. – The Hamilton College Continentals started the 2024 season with a pair of non-conference wins at Legends Way Ballfields on Sunday, March 10.
Season Update
- Hamilton (2-0 overall) posted a 4-3 walk-off win over SUNY Geneseo in the opener before defeating Babson College 6-3 in game two.
SUNY Geneseo
How It Happened
- Sofia Santana '26 led off the bottom of the seventh with a hard-hit single to third base. Jordan Merklin '26 followed with a bunt single to the pitcher and with two runners on, Alessandra Priante '24 knocked in the winning run on a hard grounder up the middle.
- Hamilton struck first with one run on one hit and an error in the first inning. Merklin led off with a bunt, stole second base and eventually scored on a Geneseo throwing error.
- The Continentals tacked on two more runs in the third frame on three hits. Priante smacked a triple to right field and Natalie Beebe '24 knocked her in on a double to the left center gap. Emma Tansky '25 replaced Beebe on second and stole third base. With one out, Ella Heftved '25 nailed a liner to right field that scored Tansky.
- The Knights countered with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth powered by a leadoff triple by Brooke Fraas.
- Geneseo scored the equalizer in the sixth on a trio of hits. The Knights attempted to plate the go-ahead run but Alexis Mayer '26 threw a cannon from center field and Heftved tagged the runner out at the plate.
- Hamilton shut down the Knights' offense and retired the side in order in the top half of the final inning.
Notes
- Geneseo, a member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference, moved to 1-2 overall.
- Merklin finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
- Priante recorded her fifth career triple.
- Beebe allowed one earned and one unearned run in the opening 3.1 innings. She walked two batters and fanned one.
- Charlie Quinn '25, Alison Zorn '26 and Santana tallied one hit each.
- Heftved drove in her 41st career run.
- Teagan Graham '25 earned the win in the circle as she allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out two batters in 3.2 innings of relief.
- Fraas led Geneseo with two hits and two runs.
- Ray Schumacher tallied two hits and drove in one run.
- Rebecca Schwartz and Lauren Gulick collected one hit apiece.
Babson
How It Happened
- Trailing 3-2 in the top of the seventh, Hamilton put its rally caps on and sparked a four-run inning with five hits. Tanksy showed off her speed with another infield single and Mayer flexed her muscles with a triple to deep right field that scored Tansky. Aubrey Purvis '27 walked and Gaby Guerra '27 zipped a single up the middle that drove in Mayer with the go-ahead run and advanced Purvis to second. Heftved loaded the bases on a bunt down the third base line and Zorn forced the second walk of the inning that brought Purvis home. With two outs, Priante drove in Hamilton's final run on a single to right field.
- The Beavers plated the first run in the bottom of the second on two hits.
- Mayer countered for the Continentals with a home run over the center field fence in the third.
- Babson regained a one-run lead at 2-1 in the bottom half on three hits. The Beavers attempted to extend their lead but Merklin threw the runner out at home from left field to end the inning.
- Hamilton evened the score yet again in the fifth inning on three hits. Tansky hit a one-out single and stole second. The Continentals had runners on the corners after Mayer singled through the left side and Beebe loaded the bases on a bunt to third base. Guerra drove in Tansky on a ground out to second.
- The Beavers were able to plate one run on two hits in the bottom half but the Continentals worked themselves out of a jam with the bases loaded.
Notes
- Babson, which is a member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), dipped to 1-7 overall.
- The Continentals racked up 13 hits and drew five walks.
- Mayer finished 3-for-4, knocked in two runs and scored twice.
- Tansky was 3-for-4 and scored twice.
- Guerra drove in two runs and walked.
- Julia Hacker '27 was 2-for-4 with a double.
- Purvis picked up her first collegiate win in the circle with one run on three hits in two innings pitched.
- Graham secured the save allowing no hits in one scoreless inning of relief.
- Charlotte Raymond drove in a pair of runs on two hits for Babson.
- Emily Walsh and Athena Hadjipana tallied two hits apiece.
- Sara Moore, Cassidy Musco and Ruby Madia had one hit each.
Next Game
Hamilton takes on Swarthmore College and Hood College on Monday, March 11 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.