CLINTON, N.Y. – Hamilton College's
Mark Kovach '28 held Amherst College scoreless over the final eight innings in the Continentals' 4-1 win over the Mammoths in game one of a NESCAC West Division series at Amherst's Memorial Field on Friday, April 24.
Season Update
- Hamilton (15-14, 6-4 NESCAC West) has won six of its last eight games.
- Amherst (20-10, 5-5) dropped to 8-5 at home.
How It Happened
- Hamilton loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first, then Gianni DiCerbo '27 scored on a wild pitch, and Edo Spadaccini '26 drove in Lucas Herman '26 with a sacrifice fly to center field for a 2-0 advantage.
- Amherst's Jackson Boyer led off the bottom of the first with a triple, and Leo Foust lifted a sacrifice fly to right field and cut the deficit to 2-1.
- Anthony Palumbo '29 ripped a single to right field and loaded the bases for the Continentals in the top of the fourth. Alfonso Rada '27 and DiCerbo then delivered back-to-back RBI singles and extended the lead to 4-1.
- Kovach recorded 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
- Matthew Chen poked a leadoff single for the Mammoths in the bottom of the eighth, then Kovach struck out the next three hitters to end the inning.
- Amherst put runners on first and third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Kovach got a ground ball for the final out and secured the conference win.
Notes
- Kovach is the only Hamilton pitcher in the last 14 years to record two nine-inning complete games in the same season.
- Kovach tallied seven strikeouts and collected his team-best fourth win of the season. He is tied for second in the NESCAC in complete games and ranks fourth in total strikeouts with 46.
- DiCerbo and Spadaccini registered one hit, one run and one RBI each.
- Taylor Kaufman '26 reached base three times with two walks and a hit by pitch.
- Amherst's Matt Tabet pitched three scoreless innings in relief.
- Boyer went 2-for-4 with one run for the Mammoths.
Next Game
Hamilton and Amherst will conclude the NESCAC West Division series with a doubleheader at Memorial Field on Saturday, April 25 beginning at 12 p.m.