WESTFIELD STATE SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH AMHERST

AMHERST, MA - The Amherst College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with visiting Westfield State College on Wednesday, dropping the opener 2-0, but rebounding for a 2-0 victory in Game 2.  Amherst rookie pitcher Samantha Miller (Newton, MA) earned the win in the second game, allowing just one hit, while striking out three in three innings of work, and junior Miya Warner (Berkeley, CA) came on to earn her first save of the season, striking out three and surrendering one hit in four innings as the Jeffs moved to 12-8-1. 

The first game saw scarce action through the first six frames.  Westfield St. had only two runners advance as far as second base, while junior Rachel Hoerger (Oakland, CA) sparked an Amherst threat in the third inning, slapping a one-out triple into the right-center gap, but was stranded there.  The Owls finally broke the stalemate in the top of the seventh with a leadoff solo home run by senior catcher Liz Oliveira (Fall River, MA), and added an unearned insurance run on an RBI single to left field by sophomore Lindsey Adams (Westfield, MA) to seal the victory.  Sophomore Hilary Little (Kentfield, CA) went the distance for the Jeffs, falling to 2-3 while scattering seven hits and striking out five, and relinquishing just one earned run. 

In Game 2, Amherst jumped on top in the third inning as sophomore shortstop Annalise Rodli (La Canada, CA) scampered home on a double down the left-field line by classmate Caroline Polales (Winnetka, IL).  Little added an insurance run in the fourth, plating rookie Ralina Shaw (Tumwater, WA) with a sacrifice fly to right field.  Miller and Warner were dominant throughout, allowing just four base runners in the two-hit shutout. 

Westfield senior Leah Peterson (Lakeville, MA) tossed both games for the Owls, moving to 3-8 on the year.  She scattered five hits and two walks in the Game 1 shutout, and surrendered one earned run on four hits and two walks in the second game.  Peterson also paced Westfield at the plate, hitting a combined 3-for-6, while Adams and senior Casey Greggo (Wappinger Falls, MA) added a pair of hits apiece in Game 2.