Softball: UMF sweeps Johnson State

The University of Maine at Farmington softball team posted a pair of 13-1 victories over Johnson State College in North Atlantic Conference action today at Marshwood High School.

The Beavers (3-7, 3-1) are slated to host University of Maine at Presque Isle Monday at 10 a.m. at the Kents Hill School due to unplayable conditions at Prescott Field. The Badgers dropped to 1-13 (0-4).

Farmington exploded in the late innings in both contests with a nine-run sixth forcing the mercy rule in the opener and 10 runs scoring over the final two frames in game two.

In the opener, Sam Morency (Lewiston, Maine) clubbed a solo home run and Meaghan Donnell (Rochester, N.H.) rapped a two-run single to lead the Beavers to a nine-run output in the sixth for the 13-1 win.

Donnell finished with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate followed by Shannon Mitchell (Portsmouth, N.H.) with a single, a double, a home run and two RBI and Amy Jones (Augusta, Maine) with a single, a sacrifice fly and three RBI.

Emma Vaillancourt (Saco, Maine) held Johnson State to three hits with two walks and five strikeouts to earn the win.

Morgan Rogerson plated Amber McCullock with a single for the Badgers' lone run.

Meagan Russ took the loss as she started and went 5.1 innings with 13 hits allowed, two walks and three strikeouts.


In the second game, the Beavers scored five runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to distance themselves from the Badgers for the 13-1 rout.

Mitchell smacked four singles and drove in three runs for Farmington with McKell Barnes (Durham, Maine) with chipping in a single, a double and two RBI and Morency and Lily Barry (Hermon, Maine) collecting three singles apiece.

Kaitlyn Bartlett (Chesterville, Maine) hurled six innings in the victory with five hits allowed, two walks and two strikeouts.

McCullock singled twice for the Badgers with Heather McLaughlin doubling.

Russ also was dealt the defeat in game two with 17 hits allowed, two free passes and three punchouts.

Me.-Farmington 13, Johnson St. 1 (Apr 10, 2011 at Eliot, ME)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Me.-Farmington...... 130 009 - 13 14 0 (2-7, 2-1)
Johnson St.......... 100 000 - 1 3 3 (1-12, 0-3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Me.-Farmington - Emma Vaillancourt. Johnson St. - Meagan Russ; Caitlin Mackey(6).
Win-Emma Vaillancourt Loss-Meagan Russ T-1:20 A-40
HR UMF - Shannon Mitchell; Samantha Morency.
Game: UMF0410A

Me.-Farmington 13, Johnson St. 1 (Apr 10, 2011 at Eliot, ME)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Me.-Farmington...... 003 005 5 - 13 19 1 (3-7, 3-1)
Johnson St.......... 000 010 0 - 1 5 2 (1-13, 0-4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Me.-Farmington - Kaitlyn Bartlett; Anna Piggott(7). Johnson St. - Meagan Russ;
Caitlin Mackey(7).
Win-Kaitlyn Bartlett Loss-Meagan Russ T-1:45 A-28

Baseball: Colby sweeps Plymouth St.

The Colby College baseball team moved to 10-10 on the season with a fourth straight victory this week as the Mules took 3-2 and 7-6 wins over Plymouth State University on Sunday.

Nate Sugarbaker worked into the sixth inning to earn his first victory of the season in the opener. Lucas Geoghegan went the rest of the way for his first save. The two combined to allow just three Panther hits.

The two teams combined for all the runs in the first inning. Robb Arndt had the biggest hit of the game with a two-run single for the Mules. Taro Gold added an RBI single, Nikolas Atsalis finished with two hits and one run, and Brendan Gallagher added a hit and a run scored.

In the second game, Colby used five pitchers as Abhi Chandel moved to 2-1 this season with the victory in relief. Mark Nelson got the last out of the game for the save.

Atsalis had a hit, two runs, two walks, and stole four bases in the victory. Brandon Nieuw and Gallagher both had two run doubles, while Devin McConnell had one hit, one run, and one RBI. Arndt, Richard Newton, and Mike Mastrocola each had one hit and one run.

Colby 3, Plymouth State 2 (1st game)
Colby 300#000#0---3#7#1
PSU 200#000#0---2#3#1

Nate Sugarbaker (W, 1-1), Lucas Geoghegan (S, 1) and John Schroeder; Hudson (L) and Rob Madonna. 2B: Ryan McIntosh (P).

Colby 7, Plymouth State 6 (2nd game)
Colby 100#231#0---7#7#2
PSU 100#220#1---6#9#1

Brady Hesslein (W), Mark Collins (4), Abhi Chandel (5, W, 2-1), Lucas Geoghegan (6), Mark Nelson (7, S) and Brendan Gallagher; Luke Merrill, Spencer Webb (6) and Rob Madonna. 2B: Brendan Gallagher (Col), Robb Arndt (Col), Brandon Nieuw (Col), Ryan McIntosh (P), Mike Cappiello (P).

Softball: USM drops two

Freshman Jen Tamindzija (Malden, MA) and sophomore Arielle Cooper (Mystic) hit late home runs to help carry the Eastern Connecticut State University softball team back from a three-run deficit after five innings and to a 6-5, eight-inning victory over the University of Southern Maine. With the come-from-behind victory, the Warriors secured a sweep of the Huskies in a Little East Conference doubleheader Sunday at the University of Connecticut softball field.

In the first game, junior All-America Molly Rathbun (Hebron) pitched a one-hitter, drove in two runs and scored two runs in Eastern’s 8-0, five-inning victory.

The pair of wins extends the Warriors win streak to eight and improves their record to 15-3 overall and 4-0 in the Little East. The Huskies remain winless in the conference at 0-4 and fall to 2-22 on the season.

Trailing 5-2 in the nightcap, Eastern scored twice in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by freshman centerfielder Courtney Jobin (Oxford, MA) and Tamindzija’s pinch home run, tied the game in the seventh on Cooper’s one-out solo home run, and won its eighth straight game in the eighth when sophomore infielder Kelly Paterson (Southington) raced home from second on an infield ground ball by sophomore leftfielder Danielle Bourne (Branford). The homer was the first in the career of Tamindzija.

Freshman Samantha Morse (South China, ME) had handcuffed Eastern in the second game on four hits through the first five innings and Southern Maine (2-22, 0-4 little east) scored twice in the first, twice in the fourth and once in the fifth off sophomore starter Christine Akcer (Milford) to move out to its 5-2 lead.

Sophomore second baseman Anna Allard’s (Parsonsfield, ME) leadoff double in the fifth – one of five doubles in the game by Southern Maine -- knocked out Acker, but Rathbun kept the game close by striking out eight over the final four inning in place of Akcer and keeping the deficit at three runs.

Allard had four hits and scored two runs for Southern Maine in the second game, with senior leftfielder Sarah Deroche (Portland, ME) driving in a run with a single and scoring in the first inning, Morse doubling in a run and scoring and No. 9 hitter Stefanie Stockwell (Buxton, ME) singling in a run in the fourth.

Cooper’s struck her game-tying home run in the seventh – her third of the year – on a 1-2 pitch. Eastern won the game in the eighth when Paterson reached on an infield error, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored when neither Morse nor her left-side infielders could make a play on Bourne’s squibbler to the left side.

In the opener, Rathbun (8-0) allowed only two baserunners while fanning eight. Rathbun struck out the first five batters before walking senior catcher Melissa Caiazzo (Portland,ME) to lead off the third. Deroche managed the only hit when she legged out a ground ball to short with two out in the fourth.

Eastern batted around in the first inning of the first game and scored four runs on two hits, two errors and two walks, and added three more runs in the fourth on two hits and three walks. Rathbun’s fourth home run of the year leading off the fifth ended the game, due to the eight-run rule.

In the first game, Paterson and freshman shortstop Megan Godwin (Manchester) each had two hits and matched Rathbun with two RBI.

Southern Maine hosts Bowdoin College on Wednesday (3:30 p.m.). The Warriors host the United States Coast Guard Academy on Tuesday (3:00 p.m.).

At Williamantic, Conn.
Southern Maine (2-21, 0-3) 000 00 0-1-2
Eastern Conn. (14-3, 3-0) 400 31 8-7-0
Batteries: SM, Sarah Deroche and Melissa Caiazzo EC, Molly Rathbun and Megan Bondy
WP: EC, Rathbun (7-0) LP: SM, Deroche (1-11)
2B: EC, Kelly Paterson
3B: None
HR: Rathbun
RBI: Rathbun 2, Paterson 2, Megan Godwin 2, Arielle Cooper, Rosie Manzo
Repeat Hitters: Paterson, Godwin

Southern Maine (2-22, 0-4) 200 210 00 5-11-1
Eastern Connecticut (15-3, 4-0) 110 002 11 6-8-1
Batteries: SM, Samantha Morse and Caiazzo
EC, Christine Acker, Rathbun (5) and Rachel Soychak
WP: EC, Rathbun (8-0) LP: SM, Morse (1-11)
2B: SM, Anna Allard, Kayla Ferrara 2, Caiazzo, Morse
3B: None
HR: EC, Arielle Cooper, Jen Tamindzija
RBI: SM, Deroche, Ferrara, Morse, Stefanie Stockwell
EC, Priscilla Alicea, Cooper, Paterson, Courtney Jobin, Danielle Bourne, Tamindzija
Repeat Hitters: SM, Allard 4, Deroche, Ferrara
EC, Alicea

Baseball: Maine splits with Stony Brook

The University of Maine baseball team split a doubleheader with Stony Brook in games played at Adelphi University on Sunday afternoon. The Black Bears picked up a 7-3 win in the first game, but dropped the second one 7-0. Maine moves to 10-19 on the season with the split and 1-3 in America East action. The Seawolves improve to 19-8 on the campaign and 3-1 in conference play.

In the first game, Maine took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Joey Martin (Portland, Maine) was hit and Taylor Lewis (Montville, Conn.) singled up the middle. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Martin scored when Tyler Patzalek (Burlington, Ontario) grounded out. Lewis scored the second run of the inning when Alex Calbick (Burnaby, British Columbia) hit a RBI single.

Maine added three more runs in the top of the second inning. Troy Black (Mississauga, Ontario) singed up the middle and Mike Conolly (Middleborough, Mass.) followed with a single. Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) had a bunt single to advance both runners. Martin hit a two-run singled scoring both Black and Connolly. Fransoso scored when Patzalek grounded out.

Stony Brook got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Maxx Tissenbaum walked and scored when Travis Jankowski singled to third base. The Seawolves added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull to within a pair of runs. Chad Marshall and William Carmona had back-to-back singles up the middle. Tissenbaum followed with a double scoring Marshall. Carmona scored when Stephen Marino grounded out.

The Black Bears countered with a run in the top of the sixth. Fransoso singled up the middle and advanced to second on a Martin sacrifice bunt. He moved to third when Lewis grounded out and scored when Patzalek singled up the middle. It was the third RBI of the game for Patzalek.

Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) led off the top of the seventh inning with a homer to left field to extend Maine's lead to 7-3.

Keith Bilodeau (Bourne, Mass.) pitched the complete game for the Black Bears. He allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out five. He improves to 3-2 on the season.

Frankie Vanderka went just one inning in the start for Stony Brook. He allowed five runs on seven hits. He falls to 2-2 on the season. He was replaced by James Campbell who pitched the final six innings. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five.

In the second game, Stony Brook jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Marshall was hit-by-a-pitch and Carmona followed with a double. Both runners scored on a Tissenbaum single.

The Seawolves added five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Joshua Mason led off the inning with a double to left field. Cantwell reached on a fielder's choice. Marshall followed with a single and Cantwell moved to second. Carmona hit a two-run double scoring Cantwell and Marshall. Tissenbaum then doubled and Carmona scored. Marino followed and belted a home run, extending Stony Brook's lead to 7-0.

Justin Leisenheimer led the Black Bears with a pair of hits in the game.

Shaun Coughlin (Northfield, Conn.) went five innings on the mound. He allowed seven runs on nine hits while striking out three. He falls to 1-1 on the season. He was replaced by D.J. Voisine (Plainville, Conn.) went two innings and allowed just one hit while striking out two. Fran Whitten (Westborough, Mass.) pitched the eighth. He did not allow a hit.

Brandon McNitt went seven innings and allowed just five hits. He struck out five batters and improves to 3-1 on the season. He was replaced by Evan Stecko-Haley. Stecko-Haley went two innings and allowed just one hit while striking out four.

The Black Bears return to action on Saturday, April 16 when they travel to Hartford for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.

Back to the Future: The 2010-11 Boston Celtics were brought to you by the 1987-88 Boston Celtics

I could have saved this article for after the upcoming season-ending game 6 loss to Chicago in the Eastern Conference Finals, but why bother waiting when it's obvious what's happening with the Boston Celtics right now. Let's hop in the Hot Tub, the DeLorean, the TARDIS, or whatever your time machine of choice may be, and let's travel back to 1988....

The 1987-88 Boston Celtics were a year removed from a hard-fought NBA Finals loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and more importantly, another year older. The Big Three of Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish were about halfway through the back nine of their time together, but they finished the regular season 57-25, far ahead of the Washington Bullets, the second place team in the Atlantic with a 38-44 record. The Celtics basically won the division by default. (sound familiar?)

In the first round they dispatched the Knicks, and then had to survive Dominique Wilkins and the Hawks in the second round in an extremely taxing seven game series. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the aging Celtics had nothing left in the tank, and the hungry Detroit Pistons avenged their playoff loss from the previous season, winning in six games. The Celtics would not make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals again until 2002.

The comparisons to the 2010-11 Celtics are STAGGERING. The player many are counting on to be the bridge between this generation of Celtics and the next generation (Rondo) has been inconsistent at best (Reggie Lewis wasn't ready for prime time in 87-88). A mid-season trade in 87-88 that brought Jim Paxson in was supposed to provide valuable offense off the bench, similar to the way the Jeff Green acquisition was supposed to benefit the 10-11 Celtics.

Neither was enough. Jerry Sichting, who was respected by fans and by those in the locker room, was traded for Paxson. Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson, fan favorites and good locker room guys, were sent away for Green and Nenad Krstic.

Perhaps it's too early write the ending on this season, but after watching this Celtics team crap the bed on national TV against the Heat today, it's getting fairly obvious this team is nearing the end of it's resurgence that started with the Kevin Garnett trade. This year's version of the Bulls is a mirror image of that 87-88 Pistons team. Both play tough defense, both are led by their franchise point guards, and Bill Laimbeer's role is filled nicely by Joakim Noah.

Oh, and the defending champ in both seasons? The Los Angeles Lakers.

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go spend the rest of the night watching Larry Bird highlights and waxing poetic about the old days. Needless to say, I'm terrified to think this team is about to have another Dino Radja-era approaching.

Baseball: Bowdoin sweeps Thomas

The Bowdoin College baseball team swept Thomas in a doubleheader, edging the Terriers 7-6 in the opener and cruising in game two, 12-0. The Polar Bears, who were playing their home opener, improve to 13-6 overall this season. Thomas drops to 7-14 this spring with the losses.

Five Polar Bears had three or more hits in the doubleheader, led by four apiece from Matt Ruane and Joe Comizio. Bowdoin racked up 29 hits in the twinbill, including 13 for extra bases. Eric Sucy had three hits for Thomas in the two games.

In Saturday's opener, Thomas took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth when Eric James Spence scored on a two-out error. Bowdoin responded with a four-run bottom of the sixth, tying the game when Kyle LeBlanc came home on a wild pitch. Jordan Edgett ripped an RBI triple to score Matt Ruane and give Bowdoin the lead. Brendan Garner and Joe Comizio followed with RBI hits later in the inning to give the hosts a 7-4 advantage heading into the final frame. Thomas rallied for two runs in the seventh against Ian Edwards, but Bowdoin's closer got out of the jam by getting a strikeout and a groundout to end the game.

Comizio finished a home run shy of the cycle and had a pair of RBI for the Polar Bears. Ben Goodall had two hits and two RBI for the Terriers. Jay Louglin earned the win in relief for Bowdoin, while Edwards took the save. Sean Twohig took the loss for Thomas after permitting four earned runs in a 1/3 of an inning.

Bowdoin exploded for 17 hits and 12 runs in its game two win, providing more than enough support for starter Evan Farley, who tossed a complete game shutout, striking out 10 and allowing just two hits in an outstanding outing. The Polar Bears scored four times in the first and never looked back, as Brett Gorman had three hits, including two doubles and a triple while Adam Marquit had three hits, including two triples in the win. Thomas Beaudoin took the loss for Thomas, allowing seven earned runs in 3.2 innings.

The Polar Bears will return to action next weekend when they host NESCAC rival Trinity on Friday and Saturday.

Game One Box

Game Two Box

Baseball: UMF swept by Castleton

Sophomore second baseman Ryan Zielinski (Schenectady, N.Y.) slugged two home runs and drove in eight runs in game one and freshman first baseman Joe Borowski (Schenectady, N.Y.) connected for a single through the right side of the infield for a walkoff win in game two to give Castleton a sweep over the University of Maine-Farmington, by scores of 17-1 and 2-1, in North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) East action on Sunday afternoon.

The Spartans improve to 9-14 overall and 5-3 in the NEAC East. The Beavers fall to 1-12 (1-3).

In game one, Castleton used 13 hits to score 17 runs spearheaded by Zielinski who went 3-for-5 on the afternoon with three runs scored, eight RBI and two home runs. Matt Eisenhuth So. Newfane, Vt.) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and drove in a pair while catcher Matthew Pause (Wilder, Vt.) also wrapped up the afternoon with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate and two RBI.

Tyler Erickson (Naugatuck, Conn.) earned the win (3-2) on five innings of work, six hits, one run (earned), no walks and four strikeouts. Dale Winchenbach (Walkdoboro, Maine) was handed the loss (0-2) pitching three-and-one-thirds innings allowing five hits, seven runs (six earned)and two walks.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning after Beavers first baseman Josh Garneau (So. Portland, Maine) singled home Ian McAlister(So. Berwick, Maine) from third with the bases loaded, Zielinski gave the Spartans the lead for good with a two-run blast down the left field line plating David Brandt (Contocook, N.H.) who reached on a fielding error to lead off the inning.

Castleton erupted for six more in the fourth as Pause and Zielinski highlighted the inning offensively. Pause ripped a two-run single through the right side of the infield while Zielinski hammered a two-run triple to center field. In the sixth, Zielinski notched his second home run of the game depositing a grand slam over the left field fence to cap the scoring in an eight run frame for the Spartans.

In game two, senior pitcher Seth Harrington (Bennington, Vt.) earned the complete game victory (2-1) giving up six hits, one run (unearned)with no walks and five punchouts. Ben Pearson (No. Stonington, Conn.)was dealt the hard luck loss on six-and-one-thirds innings, four hits,two runs (both earned), one walk and two strikeouts.

The Beavers claimed an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the fourth executing on small ball play. After Zach Keene (Livermore, Maine)reached first on an error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Winchenbach, third baseman Patrick Wrigley (Oakland, Maine) singled to left field plating Keene.

Maine-Farmington nearly took a 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth but a fine defensive play by the Spartans kept the deficit to only one run. Jack MacVane (Mechanic Falls, Maine) led off the frame with a double to left field and advanced to third base on a groundout. With one out,Winchenba tapped a groundball to shortstop Aaron Zrenda (East Lyme,Conn.) and was thrown out at first but, MacVane – hustling from third trying to score an insurance run – was gunned down by Borowski at the plate.

The Spartans tied up the game in the next half inning with key two-out clutch hitting as Zielinski doubled to right field and center fielder Jack Lancelin (Chatham, N.Y.) drove in the game-tying run with a triple to center field.

In the seventh, Zak Mayo (Avon, Conn.) walked to lead off the inning and was pinch run for by Adam Greenlese (Shokan, N.Y.). Zrenda followed with a sac bunt to advance Greenlese to second setting up Borowski’s walkoff single through the right side of the infield for the 2-1 win.

UMaine Basketball: List of verbal commitments to mens team grows

UMaine Mens Basketball got another verbal commitment, this time from Noam Laish, a combo guard from Israel. His YouTube chanel channel is here if you'd like to scout him for yourself.

Pete Warner from the BDN has some other names to keep an eye on. It has a distinctly foreign feel to it.

Softball: RIC sweeps USM

Senior catcher Kayla Jandreau (Plainville, CT) went 4-for-5 with four runs scored, a double and a stolen base as Rhode Island College swept a doubleheader from Southern Maine (9-0, 3-2) in Little East Conference softball action played at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

Earning its 17th straight win, RIC (17-3, 4-0 LEC) remains in sole possession of first place atop the Little East standings, while the Huskies (2-20, 0-2 LEC) are still searching for their first league win.

Sophomore second baseman Marisa Jandreau (Plainville, CT) went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two steals, while senior shortstop Donielle Mattoon (Coventry, RI) equaled her infield partner’s effort by knocking in three on a 2-for-6 effort.
Sophomore pitcher Emily Johnson (West Kingston, RI) earned the win (9-2) in game one, while senior reliever Amanda Berard (Swansea, MA) picked the victory (4-0) in the nightcap.

RIC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game one as the Jandreau sisters got aboard with leadoff singles and promptly stole to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Kayla Jandreau then came home on Mattoon’s RBI groundout to second.
The Anchorwomen put a four-spot on the board in the second that was started by senior designated player Laura DeNoncour’s (Johnston, RI) one out homer (2) to left field. With the bases loaded, Marisa Jandreau crushed a double to clear the bases and stake RIC to a 5-0 lead.

RIC tacked on four additional runs in the home half of the fourth, paced by RBI singles from Mattoon and senior center fielder Amanda Perry (New Bedford, MA).
Berard came in for Johnson to slam the door in the fifth and secure the victory early. Johnson allowed just one hit for the second consecutive outing and recorded two strikeouts. USM senior starter Sarah Deroche (Portland, ME) took the loss (1-10), allowing seven earned runs on nine hits to go along with five strikeouts.
Game two was a much tighter affair. Freshman designated player Lillian Cooper (Lamoine, ME) reached on an error to start the game and later came home on sophomore third baseman Katie Davis’ (Woburn, MA) homer (2) off of RIC junior starter Kyla Puccini (North Dighton, MA).

The hosts got one of the runs back in the home half of the first as Kayla Jandreau led off with a double and scored on Mattoon’s one-out, RBI single up the middle.
The Anchorwomen tied the game in the second as sophomore right fielder Kristina Gingell (Pascoag, RI) led off with a single and eventually scored on a Kayla Jandreau sacrifice fly.

USM led off with a walk in the fourth and RIC Head Coach Maria Morin turned to Berard to keep the Huskies at bay. The contest remained tied until the bottom of the sixth. Perry singled and junior third baseman Cristina Bailey (Londonderry, NH) followed with another base hit to put runners on first and second with no outs.

Gingell sacrificed the pair each up a station and Perry scored on freshman pitcher Samantha Morse’s (South China, ME) wild pitch. Berard struck out five in four innings to pick up the win. Morse allowed two earned runs on seven hits in a six-strikeout performance.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Wheaton in a single game on Monday, April 11 (7 p.m.). Southern Maine travels to Eastern Connecticut State University on Sunday (1:00 p.m.).

At Providence, R.I.
Southern Maine (2-19, 0-1 LEC) 000 00 0-1-2
Rhode Island College (16-3, 3-0) 000 00 9-9-0
Batteries: SM, Sarah Deroche and Katie Davis RIC
RIC, Emily Johnson, Amanda Berard (5) and Kayla Jandreau
WP: RIC, Johnson (9-2) LP: SM, Deroche (1-10)
2B: SM, Cooper RIC, Marissa Jandreau, Johnson
3B: None
HR: RIC, Laura DeNoncour
RBI: M. Jandreau 3, Donielle Mattoon 2, Amanda Perry, DeNoncour
Repeat Hitters: RIC, K. Jandreau 3, M. Jandreau

Southern Maine (2-20, 0-2) 200 000 0 2-5-1
Rhode Island College (17-3, 4-0) 110 001 x 3-7-2
Batteries: SM, Samantha Morse and Melissa Caiazzo
RIC, Kyla Puccini, Berard (4) and K. Jandreau
WP: RIC, Berard (4-0) LP: SM, Morse (1-10)
2B: RIC, K. Jandreau
3B: None
HR: SM, Davis
RBI: SM, Davis 2 RIC, K. Jandreau, Mattoon
Repeat Hitters: SM, Kayla Ferrara

Softball: UMF, Lyndon St. Split

The University of Maine at Farmington softball team split with Lyndon State College in its North Atlantic Conference opener today at Marshwood High School with the Beavers winning the first game 9-5, but falling 13-12 in eight innings in game two. The Beavers (1-7, 1-1) are scheduled to face Johnson State College Sunday in NAC action at Marshwood. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Led by Amy Jones (Augusta, Maine) with three, Farmington slammed six home runs in the twinbill.

In the opener, Kaitlyn Bartlett (Chesterville, Maine) slugged a single, a double and a homer with three RBI as the Beavers notched their first win of the season.

Jones smacked two singles and a home run with two RBI, while Shannon Mitchell (Portsmouth, N.H.) singled and homered and Meaghan Donnell (Rochester, N.H.) clubbed an RBI double.

Natalia Shams singled twice for Lyndon with Kelly Butler chipping in a single and three RBI.

Emma Vaillancourt (Saco, Maine) tossed a complete game to get the win with five hits allowed, one walk and nine strikeouts.

Meghan Gadapee was hit with the loss with 13 hits allowed and a strikeout.

In the second game, Katelyn Willey capped a four-hit, four-RBI day with a single scoring Erica Parker in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift Lyndon to a wild 13-12 win over the Beavers.

The Beavers held three early leads, but Lyndon grabbed a 7-5 lead after three innings. UMF briefly regained the lead at 9-7, but the Hornets tied the game at 11-11 in the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

Mary Gagne rapped a pair of singles in the victory. Seven of Lyndon's starters drove in at least a run.

Jones crushed a pair of home runs and plated four runs with McKell Barnes (Durham, Maine) providing two singles, a homer and two RBI, Bartlett and Lily Barry (Hermon, Maine) two doubles apiece and Sam Morency (Lewiston, Maine) three singles.

Shams went the distance for Lyndon in the win with 13 hits, eight walks and two punchouts.

Bartlett, who started and re-entered, took the loss with three walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Baseball: Bates, Bowdoin split

The Bates College baseball team earned its first NESCAC East Division win by beating Bowdoin 4-1 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at Leahey Field, scoring three runs in the eighth inning of a seven-inning game. The Polar Bears bounced back with a 14-9 win in the second game to win two out of three in the series, and even recorded a rare triple play in the game.

With the twinbill originally scheduled to be played at Bowdoin, the Polar Bears served as the home team in both games.

Game 1 was tied 1-1 after seven innings, sending the game into extra innings. Noah Lynd led off the eighth with a double, followed by a single from Griff Tewksbury to put runners at the corners. Jake Simon's fly ball to left scored Lynd for the go-ahead run. Gordy Webb and Rich Velotta, a late-game defensive replacement in left field, both singled to load the bases, and Ryan Sonberg hit a two-run single to give Bates a 4-1 edge.

Bates sophomore lefthander Kevin McGregor (1-0) delivered the best pitching performance of his career thus far in Game 1, going seven innings and allowing just five hits and one walk to Bowdoin. Michael Spinosa came on to pitch a shutout eighth inning for his first career save.

Oliver Van Zant pitched a strong six innings for Bowdoin in Game 1, allowing one run and striking out six batters. Ian Edwards (0-1) came on for the final two innings and accepted the loss.

In the second game, the Polar Bears spotted the Bobcats a run in the first inning, then turned the triple play. Sonberg led off the game with a triple and came home on Pat Murphy's RBI single. Chris Burke was hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second. Lynd then came up and lined out to Bowdoin first baseman Dan Hicks, who stepped on the bag to force out Burke and threw to shortstop Adam Marquit, who tagged Murphy out off second base.

The Polar Bears then feasted on Bates pitching for 17 hits over seven innings. Leadoff hitter Matt Ruane went 4-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs to lead the way, while Jordan Edgett and Brendan Garner, Bowdoin's second and third hitters, had two hits, two runs and three RBIs apiece. Hicks went 3-for-4 and scored three runs.

John Lefeber (2-1), Bowdoin's third pitcher in the game, got the final out in Bates' six-run third inning and stayed on the rest of the way, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs (none earned).

For Bates, Murphy was 2-for-4 with a stolen base, which tied him for the team's career steals record at 45 with former teammate Tom Beaton '10. Chris Burke was 3-for-3, and Lynd was 2-for-4 with a three-run double in the third. Sonberg also had two hits in the game.

Bates has a non-conference game at Babson next Saturday, April 16, at 4 p.m. Bowdoin will host Thomas College in a non-conference doubleheader tomorrow at noon.

Game 1 Box Score: Bates 4, Bowdoin 1 (8)

Game 2 Box Score: Bowdoin 14, Bates 9

Softball: Bates swept by Trinity

Trinity pitchers Kristen Anderson and Katherine Poulos combined to limit the Bates College softball team to one run on the day, as the Bantams swept a NESCAC East Division doubleheader at Lafayette Street Field. Trinity won Game 1 3-1, and took Game 2 by a 6-0 score to win two out of three games in the series.

Anderson (7-2) won a pitcher's duel in Game 1, limiting Bates to one run on five hits and one walk over seven innings, while Caroline Gattuso (2-3) scattered 10 Trinity hits in allowing three runs (two earned) over seven innings for the Bobcats.

Trinity scored a pair of runs in the third inning, beginning with back-to-back doubles by Caroline Blanchard and Karen Stoltenberg. After Abigail Ostrom singled, she stole second base. The throw from Bates catcher AnnaMarie Martino was off target, allowing Stoltenberg to come home from third for a 2-0 lead.

Bates got one run back in the bottom of the inning. Leah Maciejewski hit a leadoff double, moved to third on Alayna Garbarino's sacrifice bunt, and scored on a wild pitch by Anderson.

The Bantams got an insurance run in the seventh on first-year Christina Galese's towering home run, her second of the season, which landed just over the fence in left field.

Poulos (6-4), who accepted the loss in yesterday's 3-0 Bates win, this time shut out the Bobcats in Game 2, scattering seven hits and three walks while striking out three over seven innings. Kristen Finn, yesterday's winning pitcher, accepted the loss after allowing 11 hits and six runs (three earned) over six innings before giving way to Gattuso in the seventh.

Trinity got on the board in the first inning, starting with Kerry McCarthy's RBI single. Poulos helped her own cause with a two-run double for a 3-0 lead.

The Bantams struck again in the fourth, stringing together seven hits in a row, including a two-run double by Stoltenberg.

Poulos held Bates at bay the rest of the way. The Bobcats left two runners stranded in the seventh following hits by Karen Ullmann and Monica Berube.

Four Bantams had multiple hits in the second game, led by McCarthy's 3-for-4 outing. Stolgenberg and Poulos both went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

Bates (5-7, 1-5 NESCAC East) hosts Wesleyan in a non-divisional doubleheader on Sunday, April 17 starting at 11 a.m. Trinity (14-7, 4-2) plays a non-conference doubleheader at Western Connecticut State on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Game 1 Box Score: Trinity 3, Bates 1

Game 2 Box Score: Trinity 6, Bates 0

Baseball: UMF splits with Castleton

Castleton State College split a North Eastern Athletic Conference East Division doubleheader with the University of Maine-Farmington Saturday afternoon, winning the opener 14-2, and dropping the nightcap 5-4.

The two teams will square off again today at 12 noon in another doubleheader.

Farmington opened the scoring in game one with a pair of runs in the top of the first, but from then on, Castleton banged out 15 hits and scored 14 unanswered runs.

Russ Schmelzer (Winthrop, Maine) led off with an infield single to shortstop and eventually came around to score on a Matt Levine (Pelham, N.H.) single through the left side. Zach Keene (Livermore, Maine) then singled to the left-centerfield gap, plating Josh Garneau (South Portland, Maine) who reached on a fielder’s choice.

The Spartans answered with two of their own in the first and seven more in the second to break the game open. Joe Borowski (Schenectady, N.Y.) smacked a two-run double in the first, scoring Jack Lancelin (Chatham, N.Y.) and Matt Eisenhuth (South Newfane, Vt.). In the second, Castleton sent 12 men to the plate and banged out six hits to grab the lead for good. Eisenhuth, Zak Mayo (Avon, Conn.) and David Raczka (Middletown, Conn.) each had two-run singles during the inning. Lancelin added a pair of run-scoring singles in the fourth and sixth innings as Castleton pulled away.

Dakota Aker (Scotia, N.Y.) pitched five innings to earn the win. The junior right-hander allowed two runs (one earned run), scattering seven hits and walking one while striking out one.

In the nightcap, Farmington (1-10, 1-1) once again struck first as Schmelzer singled and later scored on a Levine ground out.

Castleton (7-14, 3-3) answered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Aaron Zrenda (East Lyme, Conn.) drew a lead-off walk and Borwoski followed with a double over the leftfielder’s head. Peter Wagner (Brattleboro, Vt.) singled both of them home, and later came around to score on a throwing error.

In the top of the third Farmington took advantage of a pair of Spartan defensive miscues to score three unearned runs and grab a 4-3 lead. Levine provided another RBI-ground out while Zach Keene (Livermore, Maine) provided a run-scoring double and Jack MacVane (Mechanic Falls, Maine) had an RBI-single, both coming with two outs in the inning.

Clinging to a 4-3 lead, Farmington worked a double steal to perfection with two outs in the top of the sixth inning to grab a much needed insurance run. Brian Jenkins (Gorham, Maine) singled to right field and Alex Goldrup (Waldoboro, Maine) advanced to third after singling through the right side. With two strikes on the batter and Castleton starter Brandon Fay (South Burlington, Vt.) coming to the set, Jenkins took off for second base. Fay stepped off and threw to Zrenda covering the base as Goldrup took off for home, narrowly beating Zrenda’s throw home for what proved to be the winning run.

The Spartans rallied for a run in the bottom half of the inning on a Wagner RBI-single, and put both the tying and go ahead runs in scoring position in the seventh, but Farmington starter Casey Ashey (Searsport, Maine) was able to put out the flames to earn the complete-game win.

Fay was the tough-luck loser, allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out 10 in seven innings. Ashey picked up the win, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and three walks to go along with three strikeouts

Softball: Bowdoin sweeps Colby

Kara Nilan (Pittsfield, Mass.) won for the second consecutive day and fellow hurler Melissa DellaTorre (Scarborough, Maine) also earned a pitching win as Bowdoin College took 4-1 and 9-5 victories against Colby College in a New England Small College Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at Crafts Field.

Nilan stranded 11 Colby runners on base in the opener and helped her own cause with two runs scored, one hit, and one walk. She scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Amy Hackett (Bangor, Maine) in the third inning.

The Polar Bears (11-13 overall, 4-2 NESCAC East) added another lone run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Hanna Wurgaft (Montclair, N.J.). Bowdoin added two unearned runs in the seventh inning on a two-run single by Toni DaCampo (Woburn, Mass.).

The Mules (3-10, 0-3) had their lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Lindsay Peterson led off with a double and later scored on Katie Graichen’s RBI single.

In the second game, Hackett belted a homer, had one single, and walked twice. She scored three times and drove in a pair as the Polar Bears scored all nine of their runs in the first four innings. DaCampo went 3-for-3, scored twice, and had two RBI. Meanwhile, Nilan had three hits and scored two runs.

Alyssa Lepore (Victor, N.Y.) added a three-run homer among her two hits to lead Colby in the nightcap. Graichen added two hits and two runs, while Barbara Santos (Topsfield, Mass.) and Lauren Becker (Falls Church, Va.) both had one hit and one run.

Maine drops game 1 to Stony Brook, game 2 suspended

The University of Maine baseball team dropped an 8-1 decision to Stony Brook in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, in a game that was played at Dowling University. The Black Bears fall to 9-17 on the season with the loss and 0-1 in America East play, while Stony Brook improves to 17-7 overall, 1-0 in conference play.

After two scoreless innings, Stony Brook grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third frame. Travis Jankowski was hit-by-a-pitch. He advanced to second base on a Joshua Mason sacrifice bunt and then stole third. He scored when Pat Cantwell had a RBI single to third base.

The Seawolves extended their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. William Carmona singled to second base. Maxx Tissenbaum then drew a walk. Stephen Marino followed with a two-run triple, plating both Carmona and Tissenbaum. Marino scored the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Maine got on the board with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Tyler Patzalek (Burlington, Ontario) doubled to left field. Fran Whitten (Westborough, Mass.) followed an struck out, but reach first on a wild pitch. Patzalek advanced to third on the play and scored when Maine grounded into a double play.

Stony Brook answered with three more runs in the bottom of the inning. Cantwell doubled to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Carmona was walked intentionally. Tissenbaum reached on a fielder's choice, while Cantwell scored on an error. Marino drew an intentional walk, before Jankowski hit a two-run single. The Seawolves capped the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning. Cantwell walked, advanced to second and third on a wild pitch and scored when Chard Marshall singled to shortstop.

Jeffrey Gibbs (Toronto, Ontario) got the start on the mound for the Black Bears. He went 4.1 innings and allowed six runs, four of which were earned, on four hits. He struck out a pair and falls to 2-4 on the season. He was replaced by Jonathan Balentina (Willemstad, Curacao) who went two thirds of an inning. He allowed one unearned run on one hit while striking out two. Kevin Scanlan (Sudbury, Mass.) pitched the final inning. He allowed one run on one hit.

Nick Tropeano pitched the complete game for Stony Brook. He allowed just one run on a pair of hits while striking out five. He improves to 6-1 on the season.

Game 2 against Stony Brook was suspended after 10 innings due to darkness. The game is tied 7-7 and will start at noon today at Adelphi University. The Black Bears and Seawolves will then play their scheduled doubleheader.

Maine trailed 7-4 in the ninth inning, but scored three runs in the top of the frame to tie the score at 7-7. Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) had a huge two-run double in the inning to tie the game.

-UMaine Communications-