MEDFORD, Mass. – Williams College's Katie Blanch went 2-for-3 at the plate and tossed a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts as the Ephs defeated the Hamilton College Continentals 4-0 in a 2024 NESCAC Softball Championship quarterfinal at Tufts University's Spicer Field on Saturday, May 11. 
 
Season Update

• Hamilton (16-20 overall) finished in sixth place in the NESCAC standings with a 9-9 conference record and the Continentals were the sixth seed for the championship. 
• The Ephs (21-11) ended up in third place in the conference standings with an 11-5 NESCAC record and Williams is the third seed for the championship. The Ephs are fourth in the NCAA Region I rankings.   

How It Happened

• Hamilton had an opportunity in its first at-bat with a one-out, bases-loaded situation, but Blanch fanned the next two batters and escaped the jam. 
• Williams capitalized on a leadoff walk and a two-out single in the bottom of the second inning, and the Ephs led 1-0. 
• With two outs, the Ephs extended their lead with one run on two hits in the fourth. 
• Williams doubled its lead in the sixth frame with two insurance runs on three hits. 

Notes

• Alexis Mayer '26 singled and finished the season with a team-best 36 hits. 
• Charlie Quinn '25 recorded her 98th career hit.  
• Alison Zorn '26 tallied her 32nd hit and turned her fifth double play of the season. The shortstop led Hamilton with five assists. 
• Hadley Rogers '26 added her 14th hit.
• Natalie Beebe '24 and Ella Heftved '25 drew Hamilton's two walks. 
• Teagan Graham '25 (4-6) allowed four runs in 5.1 innings on eight hits and three walks. Graham, who struck out one, finished the season with a 3.25 ERA in 73.1 innings. 
• Blanch led Williams with two hits, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
• Kayla Chang singled in a team-best two runs. 
• Tayler Wise had an RBI double. 
• Kelly McGuigan doubled.