KISSIMMEE, Florida - The University of Maine at Farmington softball team wrapped up their week in Florida at THE Spring Games with a split, taking down Alverno College, 9-7, in game one on Thursday afternoon before dropping game two, 14-2, to Edgewood University.
Game One
After a scoreless first inning, the Beavers opened the scoring in the top of the second, plating three runs on three hits while also taking advantage of three walks to take a 3-0 lead. A walk to Angelina Ventullo (Salem, N.H.), followed by back-to-back singles from Melissa Mayo (Bridgton, Maine) and Bella Miller (Lewiston, Maine), loaded the bases for Skyler Augustine (Brunswick, Maine), who drew a walk to bring in the Beavers' first run.
Ava Paglianite (Upper Black Eddy, Pa.) delivered an infield single, and then Lisa Truchin (Torrance, Calif.) drew a bases-loaded walk of her own to finish off the scoring in the second.
Alverno got one back in the bottom half of the inning. Nadya Hudson led off with a double and later came around to score on a Mac Gardner RBI single up the middle.
Farmington continued to be patient at the plate in the top of the third, drawing a pair of walks while also being hit by a pair of pitches to push across their fourth run. Reilly Russell (Windham, Maine) picked up the RBI with a bases-loaded walk.
Once again, Alverno had an answer. Gianna Medrano ripped a one-out single, and then Hudson delivered a two-out RBI double to straightaway right field to bring her home and make it a 4-2 game after three.
Farmington cracked the game open in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs to take a 9-2 lead. Miller delivered the big blow in the inning, coming through with a bases-clearing triple to right field.
Alverno did not go quietly, scoring three runs in the fifth to pull within four. Hudson and Kate Peabody each recorded RBI hits in the inning, while Giselle Moreno delivered an RBI groundout to make it 9-5 after five.
Alverno made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with nobody out. A pair of RBI groundouts brought in two runs, but junior pitcher Emma DeBoer (Saint Leonard, Md.) slammed the door shut and helped Farmington pick up their second win of the season.
Mayo, Miller, and Maddie Pike (Kennebunk, Maine) each finished with two hits to lead the way for the Beavers. Mayo and Miller each scored two runs, while Miller drove in three. Truchin picked up the win in the circle, giving up five earned runs while scattering 11 hits.
For Alverno, Medrano and Hudson combined for seven of the team's 12 hits. Medrano went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, while Hudson was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Ceci Ehni took the loss, giving up nine runs on six hits while walking eight.
Game Two
Edgewood came out of the gates swinging, scoring six runs in the first and then seven runs in the second to break the game open early. Back-to-back walks followed by a single from Abilina Dubree loaded the bases for Lily Mabs with nobody out. Mabs ripped a ground-rule double down the left-field line to plate the first two runs. Grace Dooley provided a sac fly, Dooley later scored on an error, and consecutive RBI singles from Allie Draper and Natalie Fields helped the Eagles open up a 6-0 lead.
The Beavers got two runs back in the bottom half of the first. Paglianite walked to lead off the game, and then Jessica Dow ripped a double off the wall in center field two batters later to put two runners in scoring position with just one out. Both Paglianite and Dow came in to score on wild pitches to make it 6-2 after one.
Edgewood continued to swing the bats well in the second, sending 11 hitters to the plate and pounding out five hits to push across seven runs and open up a 13-2 lead. MacKenzie Miller delivered an RBI double, and Savannah Radtke cleared the bases with a double of her own, providing the big blows in the inning.
After the first, Farmington's bats were relatively quiet, mustering just one additional hit—a Kyra Stratton (Bennington, Vt.) single in the second inning.
Edgewood tacked on one more run in the fifth on an Ellie Eggert RBI single to make it a 14-2 ballgame.
Mayo was credited with the loss, going 1 1/3 innings and giving up 13 runs (12 earned) on 11 hits while walking five. First-year pitcher Natalie Simpson (Bucksport, Maine) pitched well in relief, allowing just one unearned run in 3 2/3 innings while striking out three.
Lauren Prigge took the win for Edgewood, going all five innings and giving up two runs on two hits while walking three and striking out five.
UP NEXT
The Beavers will return to Maine to play a doubleheader on the road against Bowdoin College on Tuesday afternoon. Game one's first pitch is set for 5:00 PM.
