CLINTON, N.Y. – Hamilton College's
Natalie Beebe '24 went 4-for-5 and helped lead the Continentals to a NESCAC doubleheader sweep of the Amherst College Mammoths at Hamilton's Loop Road Athletic Complex on Saturday, April 20.
Season Update
- Hamilton (16-14, 9-7 NESCAC) posted a 5-2 win in the opener and outlasted the Mammoths 6-4 in Game 2.
- Amherst dipped to 7-20 overall and 3-9 in the conference.
Game 1
How It Happened
- Hamilton plated the go-ahead run in the fifth on a pair of singles and one hit batsman. Alessandra Priante '24 took one for the team after a hit by pitch. Emma Tansky '25 notched an infield single and the Continentals had runners in scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan Merklin '26. With one out, Gabby Garrison '27 laid down a beautiful squeeze bunt that allowed Priante to slide-in safe at the plate.
- The Continentals tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth on three hits. Beebe smacked a first-pitch lead-off single up the middle and traded places with pinch-runner Julia Hacker '27 who showcased her wheels with stealing second. Hamilton had runners on the corners after a single to left field by Ella Heftved '25. Priante walked and with two runners on, pinch-hitter Gaby Guerra '27 hit a two-run single between third and left field for a 5-2 advantage.
- After retiring the side in order, the Continentals took a 2-0 lead in their first at-bat. Merklin bunted for a single, advanced to third on a Mammoth throwing error and eventually scored on a passed ball. With one out, Charlie Quinn '25 roped a solo liner over the left field fence.
- The Mammoths evened the score at 2-2 on one hit, one walk and an error in the fourth inning.
Notes
- Beebe finished 2-for-3 with two singles and a stolen base. She secured her fourth win in the circle, allowing just two runs on four hits with five strikeouts in a complete game effort.
- Quinn launched her sixth career homerun.
- Guerra batted in two runs on one hit.
- Alexis Mayer '26 tallied a single and a double.
- Garrison and Heftved both drove in one run on one hit.
- Tansky added her 22nd hit of the season.
- Anna Primozic led Amherst with two hits.
- Annalise Knopp and Dani Torres Werra contributed one hit each.
Game 2
How It Happened
- All tied up at 4-4 in the sixth, the Continentals regained the lead for good with two runs on a double and a fielding error. Mayer reached base on a fielding error and scored on a deep double to right center by Beebe. With no outs, Beebe advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Zorn.
- Hamilton pressed the gas early with four runs on five hits in the opening inning. Merklin ripped a lead-off single up the middle, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Garrison drove in Hamilton's first run on a single through the left side. With two outs, Beebe put runners on the corners with another single to left and Alison Zorn '26 demolished a two-run double to the center field fence. A wild pitch allowed Zorn to take third and Hadley Rogers '26 knocked her in on a single back to center field.
- The Mammoths countered with one run in the second on three hits.
- Amherst sliced its deficit to 4-3 on two more runs in the fourth frame. The Mammoths had bases loaded with just one out, but the Beebe's pitching came through for a pop-up and a strikeout to retire the side.
- The Mammoths knotted the score with another on a single and a double in the sixth.
Notes
- Zorn drove in a team-best three runs on her sixth double of the season.
- Beebe went 2-for-2 with a single, a double and a walk.
- Garrison and Rodgers both drove in one run on singles.
- Teagan Graham '25 earned the start, giving up one run on seven hits, walking two and striking out one in three innings pitched.
- Tansky picked up her seventh win of the season, allowing three runs on four hits, walking three and fanning three in four innings of relief.
- The Mammoths stranded 11 baserunners.
- Olivia Aitken, Randi Finkelstein, Torres Werra and Sadie Pool combined for eight of Amherst's 11 hits with two apiece.
- Heidi Li, Primozic and Abby Kong finished with one hit each.
Next Game
Hamilton will travel to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 24 starting at 3:30 p.m.