Sargent '07 delivers against Wesleyan

Author: Dave Lee

Three weeks ago, the Middlebury softball team appeared destined to make its unprecedented fourth consecutive NESCAC tournament appearance. After racking up an astounding 25 runs in the doubleheader against an error-plagued Castleton squad, the women were ready to resume their NESCAC schedule against perennial rival Wesleyan.

The doubleheader turned out to be one of the most exciting days in Middlebury softball history, thanks to the unprecedented heroics of DH Ellen Sargent '07. After leading the Middlebury women's hockey team to their third consecutive National Championship just two months ago, Sargent found time in her busy schedule to record two game-winning hits in the same day to sweep Wesleyan. In Game One, the Panthers jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the fifth on an infield single by Jennifer Williams '07. Wesleyan, however, responded with a three-run double to left center to give the Cardinals the 4-3 advantage. In the bottom of the seventh, Katelyn Cannella '08 walked with the bases loaded to tie the game at 4-4. With two outs, the game tied and the bases loaded, Sargent stepped up to the plate. In front of a crowd of screaming fans, parents and friends, the senior unloaded on a high fastball with a blast over the head of the left fielder to win the game 5-4, sending the Middlebury bench into hysterics. Williams was also brilliant on the mound, recording a complete game win while allowing zero earned runs.

Game Two made Game One look as exciting as an 8 a.m. discussion. In typical fashion, captain Lauren Battaglia '06 started the scoring in the third with a single up the middle. Wesleyan, however, tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth, sending the game into extra innings.

Wesleyan struck next with an RBI double in the ninth to take a 2-1 lead. This time it was another senior captain, Katie Hurd '06.5, who stepped up and saved the Panthers with a fielder's choice that drove in the tying run.

International softball tie-breaker rules mandate that each team start the extra innings with a runner on second - such was the scenario as the game entered extra frames, and Wesleyan again struck first. With a two-run double by Julia Chamberlin in the top of the inning, the Cardinals jumped out to a 4-2 lead. Going into the bottom of the inning, the Panthers looked three outs away from sure defeat. However, as has been the case all season, the Panther women would not give up. Sargent noted this attitude as the one things she will never forget about this illustrious softball program. "We have a never-say-die attitude," she said. "We were down by two runs going into the bottom of the tenth, and we could have easily given up and called it a day... but we didn't. We never do."

With one out and runners on first and third, Maura Casey '07 launched a two-run double to left field, tying the game at four apiece. Now, with two outs and runners on first and second, Sargent again stepped to the plate. With a half swing she hit a pop fly to the center fielder and, with the help of a strong wind, the ball fell into the gap, allowing yet another winning run to score. What was the secret to her historic day? Was it great fans? Good defense? "I'm more inclined to say that eating Twizzlers during the games was the secret weapon," joked Sargent.

These huge wins put the Middlebury women in a tie for second place in the NESCAC West with Amherst, only one win behind Williams, their opponent for the final conference doubleheader. Only two of the three teams will secure postseason spots, and the Panthers needed at least one win against the powerful Ephs to help keep their postseason hopes alive. The Williams squad, however, proved to be too powerful on April 22. Allowing only four total hits on the entire day, the Ephs pitching staff was utterly dominant, recording 5-0 and 4-0 shutouts. Although a playoff bid is still mathematically possible - three consecutive losses by Amherst will secure a Middlebury playoff bid - losing twice to the Ephs appears to be the death blow to what was once a promising season. The only thing these Panther women can do now is wait patiently and cheer on Amherst's opponents.