FARMINGTON, Maine – The University of Maine at Farmington softball team showed patience at the plate, drew key walks, and came through with timely hitting in Wednesday afternoon's doubleheader sweep of the University of Maine at Augusta.
Records
With the wins, the Beavers improved to .500 on the season, moving to 14-14 overall. The Moose dropped to 6-12 after the two losses.
Game 1: UMF 8, UMA 0 (6 Innings)
UMF opened the doubleheader with an 8–0 shutout victory in a game shortened to six innings by the mercy rule. Despite collecting only four hits, the Beavers capitalized on a staggering 14 walks and three hit batters.
The Moose had an early scoring opportunity in the top of the second. Audrey Nile led off with a double and advanced to third on a single by Kaylee Kurr. After Kurr stole second, UMA had runners on second and third with no outs. Emma Boulanger then dropped a bunt in an attempt at a safety squeeze, but Nile strayed too far off third and was caught in a rundown. Angelina Ventullo (Salem, N.H.) fielded and threw home to cut Nile down, keeping the game scoreless.
Farmington broke through in the bottom of the third when Jojo Daigneault (Canton, Conn.) led off with a walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Jessica Dow (Saco, Maine).
The Beavers tacked on three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take control. In the fourth, Katie Morse (Dixfield, Maine) walked to lead off, later scoring on an RBI single from Ventullo. Daigneault added an RBI single of her own, and Melissa Mayo (Bridgton, Maine) chipped in with a sacrifice fly to make it 4–0.
In the fifth, Abby Wrinn (Wolcott, Conn.) delivered an RBI single with the bases loaded, followed by an RBI groundout from Mayo. Two batters later, Maddie Pike (Kennebunk, Maine) drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 7–0.
In the sixth, two hit batters and a walk loaded the bases for Daigneault, who grounded out to the pitcher, allowing Isabella LaFrance (Waldoboro, Maine) to score and enforce the mercy rule at 8–0.
Augusta's offense was quiet, managing just four hits—two doubles from Addison McCormick and Nile—but failing to mount any sustained threats.
Lisa Truchin (Torrance, Calif.) earned the win for UMF, tossing four scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out three. It marked her fourth win of the season.
Game 2: UMF 9, UMA 4
The second game was more competitive, but Farmington completed the sweep with a 9–4 victory.
UMA struck first in the top of the first inning when Nile doubled home Aubrey Peer, who had led off with a walk.
UMF responded quickly with two runs in the bottom half. Wrinn reached on an error and moved to third on a single from Dow. Pike followed with a two-run double to give the Beavers the lead.
Augusta tied the game at 2–2 in the third with a sacrifice fly from McCormick, scoring Peer, who again led off the inning with a walk.
Farmington answered with a three-run third. Mayo started the rally with a one-out triple to straightaway center and scored on Dow's sacrifice fly. Pike then singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from Truchin. Bella Miller (Lewiston, Maine) followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 5–2.
The Moose pulled one back in the top of the fifth with a well-executed double steal, making it 5–3.
However, the Beavers widened the gap in the bottom half. Singles by Dow and Pike and a walk to Truchin loaded the bases. Reilly Russell (Windham, Maine) walked to force in a run, and Daigneault followed with a two-run single. Russell later scored as UMF pushed the lead to 9–3.
UMA added a run in the sixth as Emily Lunn crossed the plate on a wild pitch, but the rally stopped there.
Pike led the way offensively for the Beavers, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Dow and Daigneault each went 2-for-3; Dow scored twice while Daigneault drove in two. Mayo earned her third win of the year in the circle, pitching six innings and striking out nine.
McCormick took the loss for Augusta, allowing 10 hits and nine runs (eight earned) while striking out four.
Up Next
The Beavers will close out regular-season play on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader against Husson University. Game one is scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM.
