This past weekend saw the return of official athletics to Hamilton’s campus. Marking the true return of spring, the lovely, sunny weather and intense NESCAC competition brought a sense of normalcy to the weekend. Both the softball and baseball teams took part in the three-game, home-and-home series against Williams, with two action-packed doubleheaders. With most of the games coming down to the final innings, neither team was able to fully break through, leading to 0–3 starts for both squads. The women’s tennis team traveled to nationally ranked #7 Amherst for its season opener as well, pulling off a couple of impressive doubles wins in a 7–2 loss.
Baseball
This weekend’s standout at the plate was Phil Bernstein ’23. He finished the series hitting 6-for-11, including a 3-for-4 appearance with a home run in Sunday’s game. Bernstein was a force on the basepaths as well, collecting three stolen bases. Brady Slinger ’22 finished 4-for-9 in the batter’s circle, including a third-inning triple in Saturday’s game two. Slinger would score on a Bernstein groundout, providing Hamilton with its second run in a 5–2 defeat. Gavin Schaefer-Hood ’21 battled through five innings, taking the loss, before two strong innings from the duo of Jack Clougherty ’23 and David Galvao ‘23.
The team’s closest attempt at a win came in Sunday’s return trip to Williamstown. After a slow start, they found themselves behind 10–4 in the fourth inning but battled all the way back. A two-run Schaefer-Hood double, plus two more RBIs for Bernstein brought the tally to 11–8 heading into the ninth. Shane Dux’s ’24 two-run single brought the Continentals within one, but with a man on second, they failed to complete the comeback. Despite not getting in the win column this weekend, the team showed some pop from behind the plate, particularly in Sunday’s matchup. The team will look to build on its progress with another three-game set against Wesleyan this coming weekend.
Shelby McVey ’22 scores two runs against Williams. Photos courtesy of Hamilton College.
Softball
Facing off against perennial NESCAC frontrunner, Williams, the softball team showed its might. Despite dropping each of the three games over the weekend, each of Saturday’s two matchups were only decided by one run. In game one, they trailed 9–5 entering the final inning. Kiana Arcayena ’22 reached, scoring one, then Madison Hijonos ’24 cleared the bases with a two-run double to cut the lead to one. The effort was not quite enough, as the Ephs closed it out 9–8. In the second game, Hamilton once again found an impressive rally in the final inning, coming back from four runs down to send the game to extras. Anna Rasmussen ’21 belted a clutch two-out, three-run homer to tie the game at eight. Williams found the winner in the eighth, prevailing 9–8 in a thriller.
An impressive weekend at the plate, the team compiled 27 runs on 33 hits over the three games. Madison Rainone ’24 led the way with seven hits from eleven at-bats, which included a home run and six RBIs. Arcayena chipped in five RBIs, while Natalie Beebe ’24 finished the weekend 4-for-5, with two runs and two RBIs. In the face of tough competition, the teams showed off their top-tier offense and ability to battle back.
Tennis
Facing #7 Amherst, the women’s tennis team was able to pick up two wins in the doubles matches. Audrey Chor ’21 and Lauren Holtzman ’23 triumphed in a back-and-forth match at first doubles, taking down Amherst’s duo of Jackie Bukzin and Julia Lendel 8–6. At second doubles, Sophia Aulicino ’21 and Ajla Karabegovic ’21 handled their opponents winning 8–4.
In singles play Holtzman and Claire Cutler ’24 were each able to pick up a set-off of their opponents. After dropping the first set 6–1, Holtzman fought back with a 6–3 win in the second, before falling 10–5 in a super tiebreaker. Cutler came out firing, winning her first set 6–4, but met a similar fate, losing her third-set super tiebreaker 10–6. The team returns to action this Sunday, April 11, with a match scheduled against Middlebury here in Clinton.
