AUBURNDALE, Massachusetts - The University of Maine at Farmington softball team opened its North Atlantic Conference (NAC) schedule with an 8-3 victory over Lesley University on the road Saturday afternoon.
The teams were originally scheduled to play a doubleheader. Game two got into the fifth inning before being called due to darkness. Due to NAC policy, the game and statistics from that contest will not be counted.
How it Happened:
The Beavers scored in six of the seven innings, pounding out 11 hits, while first-year starting pitcher Natalie Simpson (Bucksport, Maine) tossed a complete game, striking out nine to pick up her second win of the season.
Farmington took an early advantage in the top of the first inning on an RBI single off the bat of junior outfielder Jessica Dow (Saco, Maine), scoring Melissa Mayo (Bridgton, Maine), who reached base on an error to lead off the game.
The Lynx quickly answered in the bottom half of the first. Eleni Vrahatis was hit by a pitch with one out. The next batter, Leah St. John, dropped down a SAC bunt, but the throw to first was high and got into right field, allowing Vrahatis to come all the way around to score and tie the game at one.
Farmington wasted no time regaining the lead in the top of the second on an RBI single from Mayo to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
The Beavers were able to double their lead in the top half of the fourth inning. Senior second baseman Taylor Truman (Monmouth, Maine) led off the inning with a triple and was promptly brought in to score on an RBI double from Bella Miller (Lewiston, Maine).
Lesley took advantage of another Farmington defensive miscue in the bottom half of the fourth. Madison Hebert drew a two-out walk, stole second, and then scored on an error to make it a 3-2 game after four innings.
Farmington broke the game open in the top of the fifth, plating two runs on three hits to take a 5-2 lead. Dow led off the inning with a triple to right and scored on an RBI single from Maddie Pike (Kennebunk, Maine). Lisa Truchin (Torrance, Calif.) followed with a single of her own, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Emily Collins (Moscow, Maine) perfectly executed a safety squeeze to score Pike and put the Beavers up by three.
Lesley took advantage of another Farmington error in the fifth to push across its third run of the game. Isabella Moscoso led off the inning with a walk and later scored on the error, making it a 5-3 game.
In the sixth, Ventullo led off the inning with a triple and came in to score on an RBI groundout from Ava Paglianite. Farmington tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. Ventullo plated a run with an RBI on a fielder's choice, and Truman scored later in the inning on an error as Farmington extended its lead to 8-3.
The lead was more than enough for Simpson, who set the Lynx down in order in the seventh to secure the complete game victory.
Stat Leaders - Farmington
Jessica Dow; 2-for-4, 3B, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 SB
Maddie Pike; 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run
Angelina Ventullo; 2-for-3, 3B, 1 RBI, 1 run
Taylor Truman; 1-for-3, 3B, 2 runs, 1 BB
Emily Collins; 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 runs, 1 BB
In the Circle - Farmington
Natalie Simpson (W, 2-3); 7.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
Stat Leaders - Lesley
Lauren Martin; 1-for-3, 2B
Jess O'Neill; 1-for-3
Isabella Moscoso; 0-for-2, 2 BB
In the Circle - Lesley
Madison Herbert (L, 0-7); 7.0 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
UP NEXT
The Beavers will host SUNY Delhi next Saturday in what will be their 2026 home opener. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:00 PM.
