MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina – The University of Maine at Farmington softball team relied on their pitching in Game 1 and then came from behind to earn their second walk-off victory of their southern trip in Game 2, completing the two-game sweep on Tuesday afternoon.
Game One | 4-0 UMF in 7 Innings
The Beavers, the away team in Game 1, got on the scoreboard quickly in the top of the first. Sophomore shortstop Abby Wrinn (Wolcott, Conn.) led off the game with a walk, stole second, and was moved over to third on a groundout to second base. Senior catcher Christa Allen (Harrison, Maine) delivered a two-out RBI single to center field to give the Beavers an early 1-0 lead.
Sophomore starting pitcher Mack Bergen (Winnipeg, Manitoba) gave up back-to-back singles to open the bottom half of the first inning but escaped danger and coasted through the next four innings, allowing just one hit and one walk after the first inning to earn her second win of the season.
Farmington doubled their lead in the second. Jessica Dow (Saco, Maine) led off the inning with a double, moved over to third on a Bella Miller (Lewiston, Maine) single, and later scored on a wild pitch.
Farmington tacked on two more in the top of the third, putting together a little two-out rally. Katie Morse (Dixfield, Maine) drew a walk to start the rally. Dow followed by reaching base on an error that brought Morse around to score, and Dow ended up on second base. Miller followed with an RBI single as Farmington opened up a 4-0 lead.
That was the extent of the offense in the game. The pitching for both sides pounded the strike zone and kept hitters off balance. First-year Lisa Truchin (Torrance, Calif.) took over for Bergen to start the sixth inning, pitching the sixth and seventh innings, giving up just one hit and striking out a pair.
For Mount Aloysius, Jessica Koptcho had a strong day in the circle, pitching a complete game, giving up five hits and just two earned runs while striking out 11.
Miller led the Beavers with a pair of hits, while Maya Capozzoli went 2-for-3 for Mount Aloysius.
Game Two | 3-2 in 7 Innings
Similar to Game 1, Game 2 was another pitchers' duel as Melissa Mayo (Bridgton, Maine) and Gabriela Milazzo had things rolling in the circle.
SUNY Oswego got on the board first, executing a first-and-third double steal to take a 1-0 lead early.
The Beavers threatened in the bottom of the first, having runners at the corners with just one out. But the Lakers turned a double play to end the inning and escape the jam.
Mayo helped herself out in the third, leading off the inning with a triple to left field and then scoring on an RBI groundout from Emily Collins (Moscow, Maine), knotting the game at 1.
After consecutive shutdown innings in the second and third innings, Mayo found herself in trouble in the fourth. Gianna DeGonza led off the inning with a single, and Chelsea Sellars followed with a walk to put runners at first and second with no outs. Kylie Detz followed with a single to center, scoring DeGonza and putting runners back at first and second with still no outs. Mayo settled in, getting a lineout, a groundout, and then a strikeout to retire the side and prevent any further damage.
SUNY Oswego once again put the first two runners on base in the top of the fifth, but Mayo once again worked out of trouble, recording a pair of strikeouts and keeping the Lakers off the scoreboard.
After being relatively quiet offensively through the middle innings, Farmington's bats came alive at the right time in the bottom of the seventh. Dow led off the inning with a double and was quickly chased home on an RBI double from Maddie Pike (Kennebunk, Maine). Miller then followed Pike with a double of her own, bringing home the winning run and giving the Beavers their second walk-off victory in Myrtle Beach this week.
Dow and Wrinn each went 2-for-3 to lead the offense for Farmington. Haggerty and Grace Dipalma each went 2-for-4 from the top two spots in the Lakers' lineup.
Mayo pitched all seven innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits and striking out five to pick up the win. Milazzo took the loss, going six innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits, and striking out three.
UP NEXT
The Beavers will play two more games tomorrow in Myrtle Beach, taking on Mount Aloysius at 11:00 AM and Stevenson at 1:00 PM.
