Jones homers to help Beavers complete sweep of Husson

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FARMINGTON – The University of Maine at Farmington got some timely hitting and two solid pitching performances on its way to a doubleheader sweep of Husson University, 5-2 and 2-1, in the Beavers’ Prescott Field opener on Tuesday.

The wins were UMaine-Farmington’s first over Husson since April 20, 2010, and ended the Beavers’ 10-game winless streak versus the Eagles.

For the Eagles, it was the first regular season sweep at the hands of a NAC opponent since dropping two games to Thomas, 5-1 and 5-4, on April 16, 2008.

UMaine-Farmington scored all the runs it would need for the win in game one in the first inning. Shelby Bryant and Emily Soule opened the frame with singles, with Bryant eventually scoring on a throwing error to first base on Katie Clark’s sacrifice bunt in front of the plate. Kennadi Grover singled into right field to score Soule, and Lust drove a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Clark to cross. Both Soule and Clark came home as unearned runs.

The Beavers’ lead grew to 4-0 in the second when Jillian Withee scored on Soule’s sac fly to left field.

Husson broke the Beavers’ shutout bid in the top of the sixth, scoring Lyndsey Merrill on a Farmington error on Casey Lopes’ grounder to second base. UMaine-Farmington got that run back in the bottom of the frame, when Withee laid down a bunt single that scored pinch runner Natasha DeRoche.

The Eagles plated their second run in the seventh, again courtesy a Beaver error – this time a fielding error at short, which allowed Haley Spiers to score from second base. That left runners at first and second with no outs, but Farmington starter Soule induced a sharp double play grounder to third, then got Chelsea Brennan to pop up to first base to get out of the jam.

Soule scattered six hits and fanned six Husson batters on her way to the win, improving to 6-2 on the season with the complete game win. Husson’s Amanda Ryan also went the distance, allowing nine hits and just two earned runs with four strikeouts in the loss.

In game two, Amy Jones accounted for both UMaine-Farmington runs in the 2-1 victory.

Jones drove in the Beavers’ first run in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI single to score Devin Fitzgerald, after Fitzgerald drew a walk to lead off the frame.

Husson quickly knotted the game at 1-1 in the fourth. Jess Poulin stroked a one-out single into left center, advanced on a single by Sami Schultz, and scored on Spiers’ single into straightaway center field.

Jones provided the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth, belting a one-out solo home run, her second round-tripper of the season, to give the Beavers a 2-1 lead.

Husson threatened in the top of the seventh, starting with a walk issued to Schultz to start off the inning, but the Beavers got out of the jam with a little controversy.

After Husson sent in Sarah Babin as a pinch runner for Schultz and the Beavers pulled starter Courtney Fowler in favor of Soule in a relief role, Spiers laid down a bunt directly in front of the plate. The ensuing throw from Farmington catcher Meryl Bond hit Spiers in the back, and the home plate umpire ruled her out on interference for leaving the base path. Babin, who had advanced to third, was sent back to first, but was thrown out trying to steal second during the at bat of pinch hitter Lyndsey Merrill. Merrill then hit a hard grounder back to Soule, who completed the throw to first to give the Beavers the win.

Fowler picked up the win for her six innings of work, recording two strikeouts while giving up eight hits. Soule earned her first save of the season for her two batters faced.

Husson starter Kayla Merrill allowed just five UMF hits in her six innings in the circle, and was charged with the loss.

UMaine-Farmington is scheduled to travel to Waterville, Maine, on Wednesday to face Colby College in a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader. Husson faces Bates College in a home doubleheader on Wednesday starting at 4:00 p.m.

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