FARMINGTON, Maine - The University of Maine at Farmington softball team used a huge game at the plate in game one of Saturday's North Atlantic Conference (NAC) doubleheader against the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The Beavers finished with 14 hits in game one en route to an 8-2 win. The Owls bounced back in game two, taking down the Beavers 13-4 in five innings. Despite the games being played in Farmington, Presque Isle was the 'home' team for both games. 

Game One

After a scoreless 1st inning, Olivia Paradis (Saco, Maine) got the offense rolling with her 1st home run of the season, a towering shot to dead left field. 

The Beavers were able to extend their lead in the top of the 3rd inning. Kiley Merritt (Lisbon Falls, Maine) hit a one-out single and Maddie Pike (Kennebunk, Maine) followed with a single of her own that the Owls' center fielder misplayed allowing Merritt and Pike to move up to 2nd and 3rd. Christa Allen (Harrison, Maine) followed with a big double over the head of the center fielder to make it 3-0 Beavers.

Farmington's offense kept rolling in the 4th. Mackenzie Dyer (Hancock, Maine) led off with a bunt single and moved up to 2nd on a passed ball. Katie Hammer (Ellsworth, Maine) delivered a one-out RBI single to give the Beavers a 4-0 lead. 

Pike doubled to lead off the 5th, moved up to 3rd on a groundout, and scored on a SAC fly from Paradis to make it 5-0.

The owls battled back in the bottom of the 5th. Dalaney Afinson and Olivia Gray each picked up one-out RBI singles to cut into the deficit and make it 5-2 after five innings. 

The Beavers got one run back in the 6th as Taylor Veilleux (Belgrade, Maine) and Hammer opened up the inning with back-to-back singles. Bella Miller (Lewiston, Maine) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Veilleux and Hammer over to 2nd and 3rd. Merritt also bunted but perfect placement allowed her to reach and Veilleux to come into score. 

A two-out rally by the Beavers in the 7th gave them a pair of insurance runs. Dyer began the rally with a single to left. Veilleux hit a ball to right that was misplayed allowing Dyer to come all the way around to score. Veilleux also moved over to 2nd on the play. Hammer delivered another RBI single to extend the Beavers lead to 8-2.

Carleigh Schievink (Charlestown, Mass.) set the Owls down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 7th to pick up the victory. Schievink went all seven innings, giving up just two earned on nine hits and striking out four. Merritt, Dyer, and Hammer each finished 3-4 to lead the Beavers. Allen, Paradis, and Hammer each tallied two RBIs.

Hailey Saylor and Afinson each went 2-4 to pace the Owls offense. Saylor went all seven innings for the Owls, giving up six earned on 14 hits while striking out three. 

Game Two

After falling in game one, the Owls got things going early in game two, scoring five in each the 1st and 2nd innings to quickly take a 10-0 lead. In the 1st inning, Zoe Stewart picked up an RBI double while Olivia Gray drove in two with a double of her own. In the 2nd inning, the Owls quickly loaded the bases with nobody out, scoring a run on a walk and a pair on error to chase Beavers reliever Brianna Benson (Woodstock, Maine) from the game. Gray delivered an RBI groundout and Emily Brauvelt picked up an RBI single.

The Beavers battled back in the 3rd inning, sending eight hitters to the plate and scoring four runs to make it a 10-4 game. Hammer opened up the inning with a double. Miller followed with a single and promptly stole 2nd base to give the Beavers a pair of runners in scoring position. Merritt drove them both in with a two-RBI single to right center. Pike followed with a single of her own and then Allen walked to load the bases with still nobody out. An RBI groundout from Paradis delivered the Beavers their 3rd run. Chelsea Davis (New Gloucester, Maine) then ripped a single to right field scoring Pike but Allen was cut down trying to score to record the 2nd out of the inning and keep the game at 10-4.

Both teams were scoreless until the bottom of the 5th inning when Stewart delivered a game-ending three-run home run to center field.

Grace Martin (Billerica, Mass.) drew the start on the mound for the Beavers giving up five runs (three earned) while being unable to record an out. Benson pitched an inning in relief giving up five runs and three earned. Schievink pitched the final 3.1 innings in relief giving up three earned and striking out a pair. Seven Beavers each recorded hits in the game.

Gracelyn Walsh picked up the winning, going five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and striking out a pair. Rachel Billings, Stewart, and Emma McNally each tallied a pair of hits to pace the Owls. 

UP NEXT

The Beavers will travel to Presque Isle to take on UMPI on Wednesday in a pair of non-conference contests. Game one is set to begin at 12 PM.