Beavers Break Bay Path
04.19.2008
Sophomore shortstop Sarah Gates (North Granby, Conn.) led both teams in today’s North Atlantic Conference softball double header going 4-for-4 with one run and three walks despite two rough losses for the Wildcats of Bay Path. The University of Maine Farmington Beavers took both games with a tight 4-3 win in the opener and dominating the nightcap 12-1 in five innings.
Freshman outfielder Kasey McPhail (Benton, Maine) batted .857 for the day going a near perfect 6-for-7 while chipping four runs to top the Beavers.
In game one both teams held each other to a scoreless three innings with the Wildcats striking first in the bottom of the fourth. Senior outfielder Tianna Carr (Beverly, Mass.) led off with a single shot past third base. Junior catcher Sarah Wright (Canterbury, NH) proceeded to advance Carr on a beautifully played bunt to notch the single. Carr would reach on a throwing error on the Beavers’ hurler Sarah Defillip (Brewer, Maine).
Maine Farmington answered back with a run in the top of the fifth to knot the game one all. Senior infielder Kelly McDonough (Windham, Maine) sent one to left center and advanced on a mimicked double shot by senior teammate Megan Goodrow (Oakland, Maine). Freshman catcher McKell Barnes (Durham, Maine) nailed a sacrifice fly to right field line to notch the lone RBI.
The Beavers scored two more in the top of the sixth and the eventual game winner in the seventh. McPhail scored the winning run after a speedy single to the shortstop. Senior infielder Breanna Connors (Madison, Maine) put McPhail in scoring position on a smack to left center while junior outfielder Lauren Overlock (Belfast, Maine) plated the run on a slice through the left side.
Despite a valiant comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh, Bay Path was unable to score more than two runs. With the bases loaded a misplayed lead-off of third base by sophomore infielder Sam Gunseth (Swanzey, NH) was sent packing on an interference call.
Defillip (5-0) garnered the win allowing 12 hits on three runs with only two earned. She fanned eight while walking one Wildcat.
Sophomore hurler Jess Nizinski (West Springfield, Mass.) suffered the loss allowing four runs of which two were earned on 12 hits. She is now 11-6 on the season.
Game two was dominated by the Beavers shutting down the Wildcats in five with an eleven point lead. Junior starting pitcher Liz Bergeron (Milford, Maine) went 4.0 innings allowing only one run on one hit. She struck out two and placed three on base and is now 5-0 for her effort. Senior reliever Meagan Carmen (Unity, Maine) finished the final inning giving up two hits.
Sophomore Kristal Cormier (Rochester, NH) picked up the loss allowing 19 hits on 12 runs only fanning one batter. Cormier is now 8-5 on the year.
McPhail was a perfect 3-for3 for the night cap pitching in two runs. Five other Beavers had multiple hits while two hit safely. Only Gates, Gunseth and Nizinski were able to tally hits in game two with Gunseth notching Bay Path’s lone run to break up the shut-out.
Bay Path is now 19-10 overall and 9-7 in the NAC, while Maine Farmington advances to 10-2 on the season and 8-0 in conference. Bay Path will host another North Atlantic Conference double header tomorrow facing Thomas College at a 1:00 p.m. start time.
GAME ONE:
Maine Farmington 4, Bay Path College 3 (04/19/08 at Longmeadow, Mass.) (Game 1)
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Maine Farmington.... 000 012 1 - 4 12 2 (9-2, 7-0 NAC)
Bay Path College.... 000 100 2 - 3 12 2 (19-10, 9-6 NAC)
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Pitchers: Maine Farmington - Sarah Defillip. Bay Path College - Jessica Nizinski.
Catchers: UMF –McKell Barnes. BPC –Sarah Wright.
Win-Sarah Defillip(5-0) Loss-Jessica Nizinski(11-6) T-1:50 A-78
E - M. Goodrow(6); K. Ross(3); Sarah Palmer(6); Jess Nizinski(5). LOB - Beavers 13;Wildcats 10. 2B - L. Overlock(3); M. Goodrow(2); Sam Gunseth(5); Kristal Corm(7). HBP - C. Flaherty. SH - E. Porter(1); K. Ross(1); B. Conners(2); Kristal Corm(1). SF - E. Porter(1); M. Barnes(1). SB - L. Overlock(2); Sarah Gates 2(10); Amanda Rodriguez(7); Tianna Carr(4).
GAME TWO
Maine Farmington 12, Bay Path College 1 (04/19/08 at Longmeadow, Mass.) (Game 2)
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Maine Farmington.... 002 46 - 12 19 1 (10-2, 8-0 NAC)
Bay Path College.... 000 10 - 1 3 3 (19-10, 9-7 NAC)
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Pitchers: Maine Farmington - Liz Bergeron; Meagen Carmen(5). Bay Path College - Kristal Cormier
Catchers: UMF -Breanna Connors; Kerry Kowalczyk (5). BPC -Amanda Rodriguez
Win-Liz Bergeron(5-0) Loss-Kristal Cormier(8-5) T-1:30 A-0
E - S. Defillip(1); Sam Gunseth(5); Sarah Palmer(7); Tianna Carr(4). DP - Beavers 1.LOB - Beavers 9; Wildcats 5. 2B - M. Barnes 2(6); C. McPhail 2(4). SH - B Conners(1). SB - E. Porter(1).
