FARMINGTON, Maine - The University of Maine at Farmington dropped both ends of a doubleheader against the Central Maine Community College Mustangs in the Beavers home opener at Prescott Field on Sunday afternoon. The Mustangs battled back to take game one 7-6 and held on in game two to win 7-5.
Game One
The Beavers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the 1st inning to grab a quick lead. After Olivia Paradis (Saco, Maine) reached on an error with two outs to load the bases and keep the inning alive, Chelsea Davis (Gray, Maine) ripped a single to left to drive in two runs.
The Beavers quickly doubled their lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Taylor Veilleux (Belgrade, Maine) led off with a single up the middle and Katie Hammer (Ellsworth, Maine) beat out an infield single to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out. After a strike out for the 1st out of the inning. Kiley Merritt (Lisbon Falls, Maine) dropped down a bunt that Mustangs starting pitcher Olivia Scott threw away allowing Veilleux to come in to score. A good back up by Sydney Stewart in right field allowed the Mustangs to get the ball back into the infield quickly and get Merritt out trying to advance to 2nd base. Hammer was able to move up to 3rd on the play. Maddie Pike (Kennebunk, Maine) followed with a single up the middle to bring home Hammer and make it a 4-0 game.
Farmington tacked on a pair of runs in the 4th as Veilleux and Hammer once again led off with back-to-back singles. Bella Miller (Lewiston, Maine) followed with a rocket right to the 1st baseman who was able to tag out Hammer on the play to record the double play. Merritt reached on an error that allowed Veilleux to score and keep the inning alive. Pike followed with a big double to the wall in left center to make it 6-0 Beavers.
In the circle, Carleigh Schievink (Charlestown, Mass.) was flawless through five innings, allowing just three hits and no runs while striking out four. But the Mustangs got to Schievink in the 6th inning, pushing across seven runs to the lead. Sarah Poli delivered a bases clearing double to get the Mustangs on the board. After a single and a walk reloaded the bases, Alyvia Perreault cleared them once again with a triple into the left field corner. Paige Ouellette delivered a clutch two-out double to score Perreault and give CMCC the lead.
Pike led off the bottom of the 7th with a single but got doubled up a 1st on a difficult read to end the game.
Pike finished 3-3 with two RBIs and a run scored to pace the Beavers offense. Davis, Veilleux, and Hammer each added two hits.
Ouellette finished 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Poli and Perreault delivered three RBIs for the Mustangs.
Game Two
The Beavers got on the board first in game two. Miller was hit by a pitch to open the game and moved over to 2nd on a SAC bunt from Merritt. Pike followed with an RBI single to right field to give the Beavers the early 1-0 lead.
The Mustangs loaded the bases in the 2nd inning, but Beavers starting pitcher Brianna Benson (Woodstock, Maine) battled out of the jam to keep the Mustangs scoreless through two innings.
The Beavers threatened to extend their lead in the bottom of the 3rd, loading the bases with two out. But Riley McNamara worked out of the jam to keep it 1-0 Beavers after three.
The Mustangs offense scored five in the top of the 4th to take a 5-1 lead. McKenna Ridlon led off with a walk and scored on a double Abby Ferland that chased Benson from the game. Grace Martin (Marblehead, Mass.) took over for Benson. The Mustangs added a pair of runs on Beaver defensive miscues. McNamara and Scott added RBIs in the inning as well for CMCC.
In the top of the 6th inning the Mustangs added a pair of insurance runs on RBI singles from Poli and Ridlon to take a 7-1 lead.
The Beavers loaded the bases in the bottom half of the 6th, and Miller was hit by a pitch for the 2nd time in the game allowing Paradis to come in to score.
The Beavers continued to battle back in to the bottom of the 7th, scoring three runs on and RBI double from Christa Allen (Harrison, Maine), a Mustang defensive error, and a Veilleux RBI single. Hammer drew a two out walk to bring the go ahead run to the plate. But Scott who had just replaced McNamara in the circle, got Miller to strike out to end the game.
Pike, Paradis, and Veilleux each recorded two hits to lead the offensive attack for the Beavers.
Scott led the Mustangs with three hits, an RBI and one run scored. Gallan and Ferland each added two hits.
UP NEXT
The Beavers travel to Waterville on Wednesday for a North Atlantic Conference battle against Thomas College at 4 PM.
