Hamilton College exploded for 14 runs on 17 hits in a 14-6 win against Olivet College, and the Continentals salvaged a split of two non-conference games at the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla., on March 14.
Hamilton (2-2 overall) fell 9-2 against Wisconsin Lutheran College in the first game of the afternoon. The Continentals play two more non-conference games on Friday, March 16. Hamilton takes on NYU-Poly at 1 p.m. and SUNY Potsdam at 3 at the Cape Coral Sports Complex in Cape Coral, Fla.
Against Olivet, five Continentals had two hits or more. Katie Puccio '15 led the charge with three hits, including a double and a home run, and drove in two runs. Melissa Kaknis '13 and Monique St. Jarre '15 collected three hits apiece, including a double, and both plated two runs. Sam Miller '14 was 3-for-4 with two RBI and Chelsea Merritt '14 posted two hits and two RBI. Ashley Perritt '14 and Ellie Kiernan '15 drove in one run apiece.
Kelly Leonard '15 recorded her first win for Hamilton. Leonard allowed five earned runs on 11 hits, fanned five and walked three in seven innings.
Olivet (1-1) led 3-2 after two innings, but the Continentals grabbed the lead for good with four runs in the top of the third. Hamilton was still clinging to an 8-6 advantage until the Continentals blew things open with six runs in the seventh on four hits, three walks, an infield error and a hit batter.
Wisconsin Lutheran (3-2) sprinted out to an 8-0 lead after four innings. Hamilton extended the game in the bottom of the fifth when Merritt hammered a two-run homer. WLC rounded out the scoring with one more run in the sixth.
Amy Appel '13 singled, doubled and scored a run for the Continentals. Appel allowed seven earned runs in seven innings. Jenn Rougeux '14 and Puccio chipped in one single apiece.
