Last weekend was grueling for the Hamilton softball team. The Continentals split a doubleheader with Skidmore on Wednesday, April 18, then traveled to Wesleyan to play three games against the Cardinals — one Friday and two Saturday. Hamilton took one out of three from Wesleyan then traveled to Williams to play a makeup game against Middlebury on Sunday. The final matchup was a battle — one that Hamilton lost 2–1 in eight innings. The team has three games remaining: they host Amherst this weekend with a 5:00 contest against the Mammoths on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday commencing at noon.
The Continentals have experienced ups and downs this season, their first under head coach Kate Refsnyder. Nevertheless, Hamilton has matched both its overall and conference win total from last season (eleven and two, respectively) and has three games remaining to improve both records. In fact, despite the ups and downs, the team has a very real chance to make the NESCAC playoffs for the first time ever. The NESCAC changed the playoff structure before the season, expanding the playoffs from four teams to eight and switching to single elimination from double elimination. Now, the top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, which will be held the weekend of May 4–6. Hamilton currently sits in the fifth spot in the NESCAC West division, with a 2–7 conference record, but is within striking distance of fourth-place Wesleyan, who sits at 2–6, and third-place Middlebury, who boast a 3–6 record. Williams has finished their NESCAC schedule and has clinched a playoff spot with a 9–3 record. Amherst currently sits in first with a 7–1 record.
Amherst and Wesleyan meet in Amherst, MA, on Wednesday, April 25 to play a make-up game. The final games of the NESCAC regular season will be played this weekend, with Hamilton taking on Amherst in a three game set and Middlebury hosting Wesleyan. At the very least, the Continentals must win one game this weekend in order to have a chance at the playoffs. If the Mammoths sweep Hamilton this weekend, Hamilton will not qualify for the playoffs. Hamilton does control its destiny, however: a sweep of Amherst would clinch a playoff spot regardless of other scenarios. Regarding games beyond Hamilton’s control, the best case scenario for the Continentals would be for Amherst to beat Wesleyan in their matchup and then for Middlebury to sweep the Cardinals. Hamilton would just have to win one game this weekend to secure the fourth seed in the West division. If Wesleyan falls to Amherst but sweeps Middlebury, Hamilton would have to take two of three to qualify. If Amherst wins on Wednesday and Wesleyan takes two of three, Hamilton must sweep, and if Amherst wins and Middlebury takes two of three, Hamilton must win two of three as well. If Wesleyan beats Amherst, Hamilton would have to win two of three and hope either Wesleyan or Middlebury sweeps or, if Middlebury and Wesleyan split, Hamilton would have to sweep.
While uncertainty abounds, Hamilton can clinch a playoff spot with a sweep, regardless of other results; thus, the Continentals are focusing on what they can control: beating Amherst. Sweeping Amherst is no small task, as the Mammoths have lost just one of eight NESCAC matchups and boast a 23–5 overall record. They are ranked twelvth in the country in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Coaches Poll and hold the top spot in the New England regional rankings.
In order to beat Amherst and qualify for the playoffs, Hamilton will need contributions from up and down the lineup. Caitlin Berreitter ’20 leads the Continentals at the plate with a .396 Batting Average (BA), a .491 On Base Percentage (OBP), a .583 Slugging Percentage (SLG), and 30 runs scored. Emily Fraser ’20 leads Hamilton with 22 Runs Batted In (RBIs) and boasts an impressive slash line herself (.324 BA/ .330 OBP/ .471 SLG). Liz Brautigam ’19, Helen Lin ’19, and Kendall Searcy ’20 are also key contributors on offense sporting (.314/.347/.396), (.261/.309/.375), and (.295/.343/.379) slash lines respectively.
Four pitchers have made appearances for Hamilton this season: Zoe Singer ’18, Desmen DePaulis ’19, Molly Leitner ’19, and Claire O’Brien ’21. DePaulis leads Hamilton in appearances (18) and innings pitched (71 ⅔). DePaulis sports a 4.59 Earned Run Average (ERA), the best on the team. O’Brien has started the most games (12) and leads Hamilton in complete games (4) and strikeouts (34). Singer and Leitner have been effective, pitching the remainder of the innings.
To qualify for the playoffs, Hamilton must win at the very least one game this weekend and most likely at least two, while a sweep would guarantee a playoff berth. To beat the powerful Mammoths, Hamilton must dial it in and play its best softball of the season. They have shown the ability to compete with the best teams, most notably in a 4–2 victory over then- #14 and defending NESCAC champion, Williams. A playoff berth would be a big step for this program and a great accomplishment for Coach Refsnyder in her first season. Hamilton softball appears to be on the upswing, and a series victory over a top-team like Amherst, as well as a playoff berth, would confirm that Hamilton softball can no longer be overlooked.
