The Cardinal softball team swept the Hamilton Continentals in a three-game series over the weekend, opening the series with a 9-2 victory on Friday and adding a doubleheader sweep on Saturday in sunny Middletown. The wins gave the Cardinals a 13-game winning streak over the Continentals, as well as a 13-6 overall record and a solid 3-0 start in NESCAC West play as they seek a third straight division title.
In the first game, Hamilton jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning despite pitcher Meaghan Dendy ’10 striking out the side, scoring on a wild pitch. However, Wesleyan would take the lead in the third inning, as Dana Levy ’12 sparked the Wesleyan offense with a lead-off double to left field. Alexis Kral ’12, Tori Redding ’13, Meaghan Dendy ’10, Talia Bernstein ’11 and Chrissy Bello ’12 all contributed to the offensive onslaught in the third to give Wesleyan a 4-1 lead over Hamilton to start the fourth. Hamilton cut its deficit to 4-2 in the top of the fifth with another run, but Wes answered with five more runs, beginning with Bernstein’s two-run double. Levy blasted a three-run homer over the left-field fence, giving Wes a decisive 9-2 lead, which would prove to be the final score. Dendy notched the win, pitching a complete game while posting seven strikeouts.
Hamilton kept the Cardinals on their toes, forcing the first game of the following day’s doubleheader into extra innings. Wesleyan led 2-0 going into the top of the 7th inning, but Hamilton would not go down easily, converting three hits into three runs and taking a 3-2 lead. Bernstein was able to answer with a key single to left field that scored Redding and tied the game at 3-3.
Wesleyan had a promising start in the extra frame, holding Hamilton scoreless in the top of the 8th. At bat in the bottom of the 8th, Levy singled through the right side, then advanced to second after Sam Epstein ’12 was hit by a pitch. Levy strategically stole third base, giving her the position needed to score two plays later, after the clutch winning hit from Taylor Zavadsky ’10 to left field. This ended the game with a 4-3 victory for the Cards.
In the third game, Wesleyan capitalized on four hits, and one Hamilton error, to score six runs in the first inning, springing to a 6-0 lead that would turn out to be all the Cardinals needed. Hamilton responded with a solo homer to lead off the 2nd, but failed to cross the plate again until the 6th. Wesleyan extended its lead with hits from Bello and Bernstein, moving to an 8-1 cushion at the end of the 2nd inning. Wes allowed only three more runs to Hamilton, ending the game with an 8-4 victory and a series sweep, with Levy getting the win and racking up eight strikeouts.
The Cardinals hit the road on Tuesday to take on Western Connecticut State in a 4 p.m. doubleheader.
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