Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 GORHAM, Maine – Juniors Emily Johnson (West Kingston, R.I./South Kingston) and Jessica Borden (Lincoln, R.I.) each fired solid games to lead the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen to a sweep of the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Towers Field in Gorham, Maine. Johnson led RIC to a 9-1 (five inning) win over the Huskies in the opener, while Borden picked up the 6-2 win in the second game.
The pair of wins stops a two-game slide for the Anchorwomen who improve to 13-8 overall and 4-0 in the Little East. Southern Maine falls to 1-23 and 1-3 in the conference.
Johnson held the Huskies' to just two hits in five innings with three strikeouts. Bolstered by a seven-run top of the fourth, Johnson improve to 6-4 on the season. Ahead by 1-0 through three innings, the Anchorwomen plated seven runs on seven hits, including three doubles, to seize control of the game.
Johnson helped her own cause with a leadoff double and then came around to score on an RBI single from junior Kristina Gingell (Pascoag, R.I./Burrillville) to start the seven-run onslaught. Johnson capped the inning driving in the Anchorwomen's seventh run with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field.
RIC tacked on another run in the top of the fifth to post a 9-0 lead. Freshman Monica Koehler (Barrington, R.I.) reached on a one-out double to center field, for the Anchorwomen's fourth double of the game, and then stole third base. Koehler came around to score on a wild pitch.
The Huskies' broke up Johnson's shut out bid in the bottom of the fifth. USM senior Kaylie DeMillo (Jay, Maine) came around to score on a throwing error after reaching safely on a walk. DeMillo was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Cara Radino (Frankin, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional).
In the second game, RIC rallied from a 2-1 deficit to seal the sweep. Trailing 2-1 through three innings, RIC pulled even with USM with a run in the top of the fourth. The Anchorwomen took the lead in the top of the sixth with a single run, before shutting the door on the game with three runs in the top of the seventh.
Behind 1-0, the Huskies took the lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from sophomore Annie Mitchell (Gorham, Maine) and heads up base running from Mitchell and DeMillo. Mitchell drove in the Huskies' first run with slap bunt that snuck through the RIC defense to score freshman Kristen Duross (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy). Duross reached safely with a double to right-center field.
The Huskies went ahead after Mitchell stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, before a DeMillo walk and delayed steal and run-down led to a Mitchell run.
RIC tied the score in the fourth capitalizing on a Husky error. With two outs Koehler singled up the middle and then stole second base. With two outs, Koehler scored the game-tying run on a Huskies' infield miscue.
In the sixth, RIC used three hits and another USM defensive misplay. After reaching with a single to left field, Gingell plated the go-ahead run on a dropped fly ball.
Borden earned the win for the Anchorwomen firing seven inning and allowing just three hits. She had two walks and two strikeouts for RIC.
Southern Maine hosts UMaine Presque Isle on Sunday (12:00 p.m.). Rhode Island College hosts Western Connecticut on Wednesday (5:00 p.m.) in a Little East Conference doubleheader.
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