ORANGE, Calif -- With its back to the wall, the Williams College baseball team came up with a huge comeback Saturday, rallying from three runs down in the second game of a NESCAC West Division doubleheader to post a 5-3 victory.

 

The Ephs snapped a 10-game losing streak with the victory, improving to 2-10 overall, 1-2 in the West Division. They are scheduled to be at home Tuesday for a 4 p.m. game against Westfield State. 

 

The Ephs trailed 3-0 after two innings in the nightcap, but scored three times against Panther starter Colin Waters in the third. With two outs and nobody on, Mike Stamas singled past the first base bag. Doug Schaffer then ripped a single to right and both runners moved up on a passed ball. Ball four to Eric Pappas also resulted in a passed ball, allowing Stamas to score the first run. Senior Jack Roberts followed with a shot down the right-field line for a two-run double that tied the score. 

 

It stayed 3-3 until the Williams seventh. Erik Mini opened the inning with a double off Middlebury reliever Robert Erickson. Alex Panstares put down a sacrifice bunt and reached first on a throwing error. Stamas then grounded an opposite-field single into left to score Mini with the go-ahead run. One out later, Pappas had an RBI-single to plate the insurance run. 

 

First-year Williams hurlers George Caroll and Bryan Woolley shined on the mound for the Ephs. Carroll went the first seven frames, scattering seven hits while walking four. He did not allow a run after the second inning. Woolley earned the save, throwing two clean innings. He retired the Panthers in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out the win and allowed no hits or walks or baserunners over his two frames. He fanned one batter.

 

Stamas was 2 for 5 for the Ephs. Pappas was 2 for 3.

 

In the opener Saturday, the Ephs received a quality start from Kyle Dean for six innings, but the Panthers scored two in the fourth and four more in the bottom of the eighth to post the 6-1 victory. 

 

Middlebury starter Will Oppenheim worked his way out of jam after jam to keep Middlebury close. The Ephs had five hits and walked five times against Oppenheim, but scored just a lone run.  They left seven men on base over the seven frames, 

 

Williams did take a 1-0 lead in the first when Mike Stamas led off with a single and came around to score on a wild pitch. Middlebury scored twice in its fourth on three consecutive two-out hits. Hayden Smith singled with two outs and scored the tying run when Allen Guild doubled. Guild scored when Sam Graf singled to left for a 2-1 lead.

 

The Ephs had five hits in the loss. Stamas was 3 for 4 with a run scored. Dean took the loss, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing eight hits and six runs, all earned. He walked one and struck out two.

 

Softball

CLINTON, N.Y. — The Williams College softball team brought out the hitting shoes Saturday, sweeping NESCAC West Division rival Hamilton College, 18-1, and 12-3, at the Continentals' Loop Road Complex. Both games ended after five innings due the eight-run mercy rule. 

 

The Ephs improved to 15-4 overall, 2-1 in the NESCAC West. The Ephs are at Skidmore Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m.

 

The Ephs pounded out 14 hits in the opener, including three home runs and three doubles. All three doubles came in the first inning when Williams scored three times to take a 3-0 lead and never looked back. Jessica Kim drew a lead-off walk and moved to second when Mackenzie Murphy lined a single down the left-field line. After Kim was picked off second, Kirstin Mapes drove a ball in left-center that one-hopped the fence and scored Murphy. Margo Beck then smacked a liner into right center for a double that scored Mapes, and Riley Salvo concluded the barrage with a two-bagger lined down the right-field line for the three-run advantage. 

 

The Ephs put the game away with a seven-run top of the third. Casey Pelz led off with a walk and Salvo singled to left. After an out, Jennifer Hickey beat out a slapped groundball to short to load the bases. Jill Jenkin then drew a walk to force home run number four in the game, and Kim was then hit by a pitch to force Home Salvo wth the fifth run. Murphy's groundball to third was misplayed allowing Hickey to score for a 6-0 lead. Mapes then blasted a long drive to straightaway center that cleared the fence for a grand slam home run and a 10-0 lead. It was Mapes second home run of the season. 

 

Murphy extended that lead with a three-run homer in the fourth, and capped off an impressive game with a second three-run bomb, this time to right center, in the fifth. She finished 3-for-5 with four runs scored, two home runs and seven RBIs. She improved to 5-0 from the circle, allowing four hits and one run, unearned, while walking one and striking out one. Mapes was 2 for 3 with a double, home run and 5 RBI. Beck and Salvo were each 2-for-3 with an RBI and runs scored. 

 

The Ephs picked up where the opener left off in the top of the first inning of the nightcap, scoring five times, all with two outs. Kim drew a lead-off walk, but Hamilton starter Molly Leitner got the next two batters. Beck lined a shot down the right-field line on which the speedy Kim raced all the home on for a 1-0 lead. Salvo then crushed a shot into left center that went for an RBI-double and Pelz followed with a double down the left field line that scored Salvo. Brenna Martinez drew a walk before Cris McElhinney dropped a blooper into center that rolled all the way to the fence for a two-run triple and a 5-0 lead.

 

Williams added three more in the second as Kim led off with a big fly to left field for her second home run of the season. Murphy then followed with a blast that went off the top of the left-field fence for a double. After an out, Beck drew a walk. Salvo lined a frozen rope to left which was deep enough to score Murphy and Pelz followed with a single. Beck scored the third run of the frame on a wild pitch for an 8-0 lead. 

 

The Ephs finished with 12 hits in the 12-3 victory, including five doubles, two triples and a home run. Pelz was 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Kim was 2-for-2 with a triple, homer and four runs scored. Salvo was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Mapes earned the win, allowing seven hits over five frames while walking one and striking out two.