Hamilton College dropped a pair of one-run contests against host Wesleyan University in a New England Small College Athletic Conference West Division doubleheader played at Andrus Field on April 12.
The Cardinals (12-10 overall, 5-3 NESCAC West) snuck away with a 5-4 win in 11 innings in the opener and squeezed out a 2-1 victory in the seven-inning nightcap. Hamilton (10-10, 2-3) won the first game of the three-game series on Friday, 3-1.
The Cardinals broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 11th on an RBI single with one out for the walk-off win in Game 1. The hosts held a 4-1 lead through three innings but Hamilton tied the score with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.
Sam Choate '12 singled to center field to drive in two runs in the fifth. He led Hamilton with two singles, a double and three RBI. Alex Augustyn '10 got the ball rolling in the sixth with a two-out double. Ryan Calabrese '09 and Gideon Clark '09 took back-to-back walks to load the bases. Pat Gennaco '11 hit an infield single to plate Augustyn and knot the score at 4-4.
Jake Saidman '09 struck out three batters in his six innings for Hamilton. Saidman allowed four earned runs on seven hits in the no-decision. Augustyn took over for three innings and allowed no runs on three hits. He fanned two and walked none. Justin Atwood '11 took the loss as he pitched the last 1.1 innings and gave up four hits and the winning run.
Andrew Perkowski '10 started on the mound for Hamilton in Game 2 and held the Cardinals scoreless in his 4.1 innings of work. Perkowski -- in his first start this year -- allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out two. Donovan Flint '11 took over for 1.2 innings and was credited with the loss. Flint allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk. He also struck out a batter.
The game was scoreless through five innings until Hamilton got on the board in the top of the sixth. Clark reached base with his first double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Choate and scored on a groundout by Michael Matt '11. Clark finished with two hits. Augustyn boomed a double for the third straight game and is tied with Wes Mayberry '11 for the team lead this season with seven.
Wesleyan responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Hamilton left the tying run on second base (the two-out double by Augustyn) in the seventh.
The Continentals host Utica College for the Jackie Robinson Game on Tuesday, April 14, at 4 p.m.
