WATERVILLE – University of Maine at Farmington softball (7-20, 4-6) split a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Thomas College (14-14, 7-2). The Beavers came back to win the first game, 8-4, but could not sweep the afternoon and fell in the nightcap, 4-2.
The first game needed extra innings, which also included the Beavers rallying in the top of the seventh innings. UMF trailed 2-0 before scoring on a Thomas throwing error and then Kylie Cunningham (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) came through in the clutch with a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Tasha DeRoche (Peru, Maine/Dirigo) gave UMF its first lead of the afternoon with a liner to left field.
In the bottom of the frame, Thomas tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI single to right field.
The Beavers took control in the extra frame by posting six runs on five hits in the top of the eighth inning. The Terriers added one more in the bottom of the inning but UMF shut the door to hold on for the conference win.
Kailyn Hill (Lisbon, Maine/Lisbon) tossed a complete game and fanned 11 batters, tying her for the third-most strikeouts by a UMF pitcher in one game.
The second game was back-and-forth until Thomas scored in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. UMF answered in the fifth inning when Meryl Bond (Jefferson, Maine/Erskine Academy) crushed an RBI double into the left center gap.
Thomas rallied once more with two runs in the bottom of the fifth for the final margin of victory.
Alison Hamilton (Portsmouth, R.I./Portsmouth) finished the afternoon 5-for-9 with three runs scored and an RBI.
UMF travels to Castleton on Saturday in the regular season finale.
