Edited by Karl Greenblatt '15

Baseball
The Amherst baseball team had a successful run in Fla. last week going 9-3. The team opened its season with a 3-0 win over Vassar, handing the Brewers their first lost of the 2014 season. Senior captain Dylan Driscoll pitched eight scoreless innings before being relieved by Eric Kotin ’14 in the ninth. Taiki Kasuga ’14, Tyler Jacobs ’15 and Andrew Vandini ’16 all recorded two hits each, while Brendon Hardin ’15 and Conner Gunn ’16 added one more apiece.

The Jeffs had more success on day two, sweeping Rutgers-Camden in a double header, 9-5 and 7-6. In the first game, Kasuga and Jacobs led the Amherst offense against the Scarlet Raptors, going a combined 6-for-8; Mike Odenwalder ’16 homered and Eric West ’15 added two hits of his own. Later that afternoon, the Jeffs found themselves tied up at 4-4 and headed into extra innings. In the top of the tenth, Jacobs came through with a three-run homer that proved to be the game-winner.

Amherst was handed its first loss on day three by Oswego State, 4-0. The Jeffs mustered eight hits as a team, but only one of those came in the final three innings, and they failed to get on the board. Although he took the loss, John Cook ’15 pitched an impressive seven innings, striking out 13 Lakers and surrendering just two earned runs.

On day four, the Jeffs split their doubleheader against the Griffins of Fontbonne Univ. In game one, Fontbonne took a 4-0 lead before the Jeffs finally managed a run in the bottom of the seventh, when Jon Ramirez ’16 singled to drive in West. Odenwaelder opened for the Jeffs, allowing four runs on five hits, while Streit pitched the final two and a third for Amherst without surrendering a hit or walk. The Jeffs could not close the gap, however, and they suffered a 4-1 loss.

Game two belonged to senior starting pitcher Fred Shepard, who mowed down the Griffins’ lineup in a historic seven-inning performance. When he recorded the final out on a flyout to right in the seventh inning, Shepard completed a no-hitter, only the third thrown by a Jeff in the past 50 years. The southpaw was quick to credit his teammates — especially the defense behind him — for their role in his dominant outing.

“Obviously throwing a no-hitter is a pretty sweet feat but it really wouldn’t be possible without a whole team effort,” Shepard said. “The offense came alive early; pitching with a lead, especially a big one, is a whole different game. The defense as always was phenomenal. Kasuga made on of the best plays I’ve seen at any level in the bottom of the 7th to save the no-hitter with a diving double play up the middle, and [Anthony] Spina [’17 ] came up huge on a fly ball in the right field gap.”

Two days later, the Jeffs brought home another win over Grinnel, defeating the Pioneers 8-3. Odenwaelder recorded three hits, while Driscoll allowed just five hits in seven scoreless innings.

Back in action on Friday, March 21, the Jeffs once again swept a doubleheader, defeating UMass Dartmouth 2-1 and 18-2. In game one, Vandini scored on a wild pitch early in the game, but the Corsairs knotted the game at 1-1 in the second inning. The score remained that way until the seventh, when the Jeffs were able to bring in the game-deciding run on a catcher’s error. Jacobs went 2-for-2 from the plate, while Ramirez, Vandini and Dave Cunningham ’16 each tallied a hit for the Jeffs. Szulik picthed six innings giving up only one run, while Kotin ’14 earned the save with a scoreless seventh inning. The afternoon matchup was decided early, as the Jeffs scored 10 runs in the first inning. Quinn Saunders-Kolberg ’14 allowed only three hits in six scoreless innings.

The Jeffs suffered a disappointing 17-12 loss to Southern Maine. Despite the loss, the Jeffs received a strong offensive effort from several players, including Odenwaelder, Gunn and West.

The Jeffs finished the week with a doubleheader sweep against the Univ. of Chicago, 1-0 and 14-6. Odenwaelder pitched all eight innings in game one, allowing only one hit. In the eighth inning Vandini singled with the bases loaded allowing West to cross the plate for the game’s lone run. In game two, Vandini led the offense with a 4-for-5 performance, while Odenwaelder, Kasuga and Yannie Thanopoulos ’17 each had three hits. Five other Jeffs contributed to the staggering total of 18 hits and 14 runs.

Having returned to the cold north, the Jeffs begin NESCAC play at home against Hamilton on Friday (3:30 p.m.). They are slated to square off against the Continentals for two more games the following day, and they hope to jumpstart their regular season with three quick wins.

Softball

The Amherst softball team returned from their spring break trip in Clermont, Fla. flaunting a 9-2 record.

In the first day of action, the Amherst women wasted no time registering a win, downing Bethany 7-5. Starting pitcher Arielle Doering ’14 gave up four runs, and struck out three. First-year pitcher Jackie Buechler relieved Doering for the final three innings and allowed 2 hits.

On the offensive end, junior Donna Leet finished with two hits and three RBIs, while junior Alyssa Sherwill and first-years Alena Marovitz and Annie Apffel knocked in one run apiece.

Later that day, Amherst edged Fontbonne, 5-2 behind first-year pitcher Jackie Buechler’s first career start. The California native threw a complete game, posting six strikeouts and holding Fontbonne to two runs on four hits.

The next day, Amherst and Southern-Maine battled out a marathon-of-a-game as Amherst clenched a 12-9 victory in 10 innings. Buechler again delivered for the Jeffs tossing seven innings of relief work. She struck out eight, while allowing four hits and one run.

“The game lasted for 3 hours and was very intense, but those are the games we live for. We never gave up and it was truly a team effort. Every single person contributed to get that win and it was something really special to be a part of” Silkowitz said.

Offensively, junior Kelsey Ayers, Silkowitz and Leet came through for Amherst. Ayers went 4-for-6 with one RBI, and Silkowitz and Leet contributed three hits apiece. Sophomore Sarah McKay chipped in with two RBI.

After coming off an exciting win, Amherst lost its first game of the season against Allegheny College 8-4. Though the loss snapped a three-game win streak, the resilient team captured a win against Fredonia State the same day.

“Softball humbles you and forces you to stay in the moment and not dwell on the past. We kept our energy up and came out firing on all cylinders-that’s all you can do,” said Silkowitz of the two losses Amherst suffered in Florida.

Amherst’s bats came alive again against Fredonia State, driving in four runs in the top of the first inning. Four batters, including Marovitz, Silkowitz, Cook and Miller, recorded two or more hits. Buechler delivered yet another impressive performace, throwing a complete game.

The team sailed to back-to-back 9-1 victories over Endicott and Worcestor State. Buechler produced from the mound, helping to snap Endicott’s two game winning streak. Throwing all five innings, she struck out seven and surrendered only six hits. Marovitz continued her impressive showing in Florida going 3-for-3 and logging two RBI. Silkowitz, Ayers, Leet and Miller all contributed multiple hits to the Amherst offense.

After suffering a 2-1 loss to Western Conn. State, the Jeffs rebounded to drop SUNY Potsdam 11-0. Nicolette Miranda ’16 was tremendous for the Jeffs finishing with a home run and two RBI.

The trip ended on a high note, as the team secured a 3-2 win over Wisconsin-Whitewater and 8-2 win over SUNY Plattsburgh. Seven Jeffs tallied multiple-hit games against Plattsburgh and the entire lineup recorded at least one hit. In total, the team recorded 16 hits and 10 RBI. Wisconsin-Whitewater did not go down as easily. Trailing by two with three outs remaining, sophomore Brianna Cook doubled to center field. The next batter, Miller, singled to right field and reached second on an error. Marovitz walked and first-year Annie Apffel advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Sealander clenched the game in remarkable fashion hitting a walk-off single to center field, driving in two runs. Buechler ended her debut in Florida pitching the complete and final game of the spring break trip.

With a new head coach Shannon Doepking, and new Assistant Coach Taylor Hoagland, the trip was advantageous for a number of reasons.

“Having a set of new coaches, this trip was necessary to learning our coaches’ style and personalities. We experienced adversity and tough situations in our Florida games, which thankfully made us a stronger, closer unit,” Doering said. “With nine wins under our belts, there is a calm, tenacity among the team. Going into conference play, we trust that we are prepared for success and that our coaches will lead us there.”

“It was so great to get outside for the first time and show everyone how hard we have worked and how badly we want it. We had really great energy the whole week down there and we are all excited to be back and keep it going,” Silkowitz added. “All 16 girls play a big role on our team and if we have the same energy that we had down in Florida we are going to have a very successful year."

The Jeffs return to action with a 5:00 p.m. home game today against conference rival Wesleyan.