BANGOR, Maine – Husson University brought the University of Maine at Farmington's season to a close with a 7-2 over the Beavers, in Saturday morning's game five of the 2014 North Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament at O'Keefe Field.

UMaine-Farmington closes the books on the 2014 campaign with a 14-14 overall record, the most wins for the Beaver softball program since an identical 14-14 mark in 2010.

Husson improves to 26-9, and advances to play Castleton State in game eight at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday

A three-run fourth inning vaulted the Eagles into a commanding 5-1 lead, breaking open what had been a one-run ball game. Sami Schultz belted a solo home run to left field to open the frame. Two outs later, Kayla Merrill singled up the middle and Allison Hill drew a walk to get runners aboard. Lyndsey Merrill and Breanna Martin each had RBI singles through the left side to plate the two runners.

Husson tacked on a single run in the fifth, when Jess Poulin reached on a single and crossed on Schultz's double into left center. Another Eagle run scored in the sixth when Casey Lopes singled home Lyndsey Merrill, giving Husson a 7-1 lead.

UMaine-Farmington got one run back in the seventh, taking advantage of a leadoff single by sophomore Shelby Bryant. Bryant advanced to second when senior Amy Jones got aboard thanks to a fielding error by Husson at short. Another Eagle error allowed freshman Katie Clark to reach first safely, and Bryant came home to cut the margin to 7-2.

Husson pitcher Amanda Ryan retired the next two batters to get out of the inning and seal the win, with Farmington leaving two runners aboard.

The Eagles scored their first run in the first inning when Lyndsay Merrill doubled down the left field line, later scoring on a Farmington error that allowed Martin to reach with two outs.

Farmington knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the second. Hannah Lust stroked a single up the middle to open the frame, and was replaced by pinch runner Devin Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald advanced on singles by Kennadi Grover and Meryl Bond, loading up the bases with none out. Ryan struck out the next UMF batter, and induced Jillian Withee into a grounder to short that plated Fitzgerald.

Husson got that run back in the third on an RBI single by Martin, scoring Lyndsey Merrill.

Lust and Bond paced UMaine-Farmington offensively with two hits, while Clark had a triple in her only hit of the day.

UMF starter Emily Soule allowed five earned runs on 13 hits and one walk, falling to 7-6 on the season with the loss.

Ryan fanned six Beaver batters and yielded eight hits in the win.

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