Softball Enters Conference Playoffs on Heels of Sweeping Wesleyan

The Middlebury softball team improved their record to 18–10 last weekend as they took two games from Wesleyan.

Going into Nescac playoffs, the meeting between these two teams tested the waters for intra-conference play. The matchup was a preview for the tournament ahead.

“We’ve been performing extremely well against other Nescac teams, which gives us great confidence going into the rest of this season,” said captain Kati Daczkowski ’18. “Our game is really coming together. The wins we picked up this weekend are a testament to what we can do.”

The Panthers’ decisive victory over the Cardinals in the first (4–1) and second (8–3) game shows that the team is consistently improving as a unit. 

Taylor Gardner ’18 continued to be an offensive threat for Middlebury in the first game. With the bases loaded in the first inning, Gardner started off the scoring for the Panthers with a single to left field. Her hit drove Allison Quigley ’18 home for the first run of the game.

Middlebury held its lead until the fourth inning, when Wesleyan tied the game at one run apiece. 

This pressure motivated the Panthers to pull ahead, which the team did in the sixth inning. Gardner continued her impressive offensive game, while Daczkowski, Emily Morris ‘21, and Ali Della Volpe ’18 all got on base and eventually were sent home. Walking off the field triumphantly, 4–1, the team was excited to continue their success in the next game.

“Winning the first game was great for us and our mentality,” said Daczkowski. “We went into the second game with a great attitude, ready to compete.”

The Panther offense was complemented by a strong game on the mound by Quigley, who pitched the first five innings and was followed by Morris to end the game.

Unlike the first game, Middlebury started off trailing the Cardinals 1–0 by the beginning of the third inning. Emily Moore ’21 put the Panthers on the board in the third, blasting a home run to tie the game 1–1. After Moore’s homer, Middlebury picked up steam and seized on their momentum.

By the fourth inning, the Panthers had a seven-run lead, 8–1. Though Wesleyan was able to pick up two more runs at the end of the game, the Panthers clinched the win, 8–3.

“We had a great weekend of play,” Daczkowski added. “There’s still more to accomplish, though.”