CLERMONT, Fla.  –  The University of Southern Maine Huskies softball team concluded its spring trip with a pair of losses Thursday afternoon at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. Southern Maine fell to the Buffalo State College Tigers 12-2 in six innings and then dropped a 7-2 decision to the Elmhurst College Blue Jays.

            With the pair of losses, Southern Maine returns home with a 2-10 record.  The Tigers improved to 2-1 with the win over the Huskies, while the Blue Jays snapped a seven game losing streak to improve to 3-8.

            In the first game, the Tigers pounded out 13 hits to drive in 12 runs. Sophomore 1B Sam Strapason (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) paced the Tigers with four hits and four RBI in four trips to the plate.  Strapason had a double and a triple and scored two runs.

            Sophomore C Katie Davis (Woburn, Mass.) and senior P Sarah Deroche (Portland, Maine/Deering) each drove in a run for the Huskies.  Deroche took the loss for USM despite yielding just two earned runs as the Huskies committed five errors in the loss. 

            Buffalo State freshman P Sam Tilkins (Grand Island, N.Y.) held the Huskies to just two runs over six innings. Tilkins allowed six hits and two walks and struck out four in the win.

            In the second game, the Huskies continued to struggle defensively committed six errors against the Blue Jays.  Elmhurst senior 2B Katie Hruby (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) drove in two runs with a double.  Junior P Stephanie Iori (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) earned the win in the circle scattering four hits over seven innings. Iori struck out eight batters and walked two for the win.

            USM freshman P Samatha Morse (South China, Maine/Erskine Academy) took the loss despite limiting Elmhurst to five hits over six innings.  Morse did not allow an earned run.  Davis again paced the Huskies offensively, collecting a pair of doubles and driving in a run.

            The Huskies return to action on Tuesday (3:30 p.m.) at the University of New England for a non-conference doubleheader.  The game was originally scheduled to be played at USM, but was changed due to unplayable field conditions.