SALEM, Massachusetts - The University of Maine at Farmington softball team earned a split on Sunday in a non-conference doubleheader on the road against Salem State University, taking game one 4-1 before dropping game two, 12-0 in five innings.
Following the split, the Beavers moved to 3-9 on the season. Salem State is now 9-6.
Game One; Farmington 4 - Salem 1
After a tough offensive showing against Bowdoin, Farmington's bats came alive with nine hits in the opener against Salem State. Jessica Dow (Saco, Maine) jump-started the Beavers' offense in the first inning, reaching base and advancing all the way to third with help from Maddie Pike (Kennebunk, Maine). Despite the early scoring opportunity, Farmington was unable to push a run across.
Lisa Truchin (Torrance, Calif.) set the tone in the circle in the bottom of the first, striking out the first batter she faced before relying on her defense to retire the next two hitters and keep the game scoreless.
The Beavers broke through in the second inning. Melissa Mayo (Bridgton, Maine) singled to get on base and moved to second after a hit from freshman Skyler Augustine (Brunswick, Maine). Reilly Russell (Windham, Maine) followed with a single that brought Mayo home, giving Farmington a 1-0 lead.
Salem State looked to answer, getting Paige Souza on base, but she was thrown out at second after Emma Quinn reached safely at first, shutting down the Vikings' momentum. Truchin then recorded another strikeout to end the inning.
Farmington extended its lead in the third inning. Dow worked a walk and quickly made an impact on the bases, stealing second. Pike followed with a single that allowed Dow to score, pushing the Beavers' lead to 2-0 after two and a half innings.
The Vikings had an opportunity in the bottom of the third when Alainia Giuliano reached first on an error. Allison Frost moved her into scoring position with a groundout, and Samantha Gaona-Sullivan added a single to put runners at first and second with one out. Truchin settled in and got the next two batters to hit into fielder's choices to maintain the two-run lead.
Farmington extended its lead again in the fourth. Mayo once more got things started with a single and eventually came around to score. Augustine followed with another hit, and two batters later, Emily Collins delivered an RBI single to bring Mayo home, making it 3-0.
The Beavers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Pike highlighted the inning with a ground-rule double, bringing home Collins, who had reached base earlier in the inning.
Salem State looked to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Allison Frost singled to lead off the inning and quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch. After moving to third on a groundout, she scored on another wild pitch to account for the Vikings' only run.
Truchin closed out the performance in dominant fashion, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run over seven innings to secure the victory for Farmington.
Game Two; Salem 12 - Farmington 0
After being held quiet in game one, the Salem State bats came alive in game two, coasting to a 12-0 win in a run-rule-shortened contest.
Dow looked to get the Beavers on the scoreboard in the top of the first when she blasted a double off the wall in straightaway left field. She was ultimately stranded as Sula Roberge retired Pike to end the threat.
Salem State took advantage of a Farmington error in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. Frost reached via an error, stole second and third, and then scored on a sac fly off the bat of Samantha Gaona-Sullivan.
The Beavers mounted a small two-out rally in the top of the third when Collins singled and Dow followed with a walk to put runners at first and second. However, Roberge again settled in and induced a groundout from Pike to end the inning.
Farmington starting pitcher Natalie Simpson (Bucksport, Maine) ran into trouble in the bottom of the third. After recording the first out, Gaona-Sullivan walked, stole second, and moved to third on a Tara Perryman single, putting runners at the corners. Alanis Toledano followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. Simpson worked around a two-out walk that loaded the bases, keeping the deficit at two heading into the fourth.
Farmington had a runner reach third in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a pair of Salem State errors, but could not capitalize, as the score remained 2-0.
Things unraveled for Farmington in the bottom of the fourth. Mayo took over in the circle for Simpson but struggled to find the strike zone, issuing nine walks in the inning as ten Vikings crossed the plate to put the game out of reach. Giana Johanson, Gaona-Sullivan, and Perryman each recorded RBI hits in the inning.
Roberge earned the win, pitching all five innings while allowing just three hits and walking two to record the shutout. Simpson was charged with the loss after three innings, giving up two runs on two hits while walking four.
Perryman and Toledano each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored to pace the Salem State offense.
UP NEXT
Farmington will return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Waterville to take on Colby College in another non-conference doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 4:00 PM.
