Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Senior Stefanie Stockwell (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) smacked a two-run RBI to center field in the top of the seventh inning to cap an outstanding rally as the University of Southern Maine Huskies' softball team rallied from a 12-0 deficit to earn its first victory of the season with a 14-13 win over the Framingham State University Rams. The Huskies' split their games, falling to Amherst College Lord Jeffs 12-9 in 10-innings in their first game of the day.
With the win, Southern Maine improves to 1-5 on the season. Amherst remained undefeated early in the season at 3-0 with the extra-inning win over the Huskies, while Framingham State evens out at 1-1 with the loss to the Huskies.
Trailing the Rams 12-0 after four innings and a rain delay, the Huskies' held off the five-run rule with a seven-run top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out USM freshman Rachel Edson (Gray, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) started the seven-run inning with an RBI single through the left side for the Huskies' first run of the game. Stockwell and rookie Allison Pillar (Hollis, Maine/Bonny Eagle) each drew RBI walks, before junior Kristen Duross (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) cleared the bases with a triple to right-center field. With two down, Duross crossed home plate for the Huskies' seventh run of the inning on a wild pitch to trail Framingham State 12-7.
Stockwell, who entered the game in the third inning in relief, held the Rams scoreless the bottom of the fifth, setting up another big inning for the Huskies. With one out, Edson again reached safely with a single to right field, while Stockwell to advantage of a defensive miscue to reach base safely. With two on, Husky junior Lily Cooper (Lamoine, Maine/Ellsworth) cranked a three-run home run to center field for a 12-10 FSU advantage.
Stockwell again held the Ram bats silent in the bottom of the inning getting a strikeout and two pop-ups before the Huskies notched their go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh. A lead off walk, a single from freshman Samantha Crossman (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) and a hit-by-pitch gave the Huskies the bases loaded with no outs to start the inning. The Rams cut down a potential run at the plate on a fielder's choice grounder from Edson, but Stockwell earned the win with a double to center field for two RBI's. An error by the Rams' centerfielder helped clear the bases and bring Stockwell home for a four-run inning and a 14-12 USM lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Stockwell continued to pitch strongly sandwiching a ground out and a fly out around a walk. FSU's Shelby Phillips kept the Rams alive with an RBI triple, but Stockwell got the final batter with a ground out to third for the win.
Stockwell, Duross and Cooper each had three RBIs for the Huskies. Stockwell earned the win with 4.2 innings in relief. She allowed two earned runs on three hits and three walks. She struck out four.
In the opener, Amherst prevailed over the Huskies in extra innings. With the scored tied at eight runs each the game went to the international tiebreaker rule. Each team scored in the ninth before the Lord Jeffs plated three runs in the 10th to take the win. Junior Kelsey Ayers (Los Altos, Calif.) and sophomore Brianna Cook (Far Hills, N.J./Lawrenceville) each had two RBI for Amherst. Southern Maine's Duross and freshman Emily York (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonskee) drove in two runs each.
Southern Maine returns to action on Wednesday. The Huskies will face Wesleyan (Conn.) at 9:00 a.m. and Western New England at 11:00 a.m.
Game 1
Amherst (3-0) 303 010 101 3 12-2-0
Southern Maine (0-5) 134 000 001 0 9-4-0
Battery: SM, Desiree Benner, Stefanie Stockwell (3) and Leanne Reichert A, Jackie Buechler and Sarah McKay
WP, Beuchler LP, Stockwell (0-2)
2B: SM, Emily York A, Kelsey Ayers (2), Carolyn Miller, McKay
3B: A, Brianna Cook
HR: None
RBI: A, Ayers 2, Cook 2, McKay, Miller, Nicolette Miranda
SM, Kristen Duross 2, York 2
Repeat Hitters: A, Kaitlin Silkowitz 3, Ayers 3, McKay
SM, Stockwell, York 3
Game 2
Southern Maine (1-5) 000 073 4 14-7-4
Framingham State (1-1) 228 000 1 13-13-2
Battery: SM, Katelyn Hammond, Desiree Benner (2), Stefanie Stockwell (3) and Leanne Reichert
FSU, Alexandra Ferri, Emily Kattau (5), Andrea Smith (5) and Marissa Flynn
WP: SM, Stockwell (1-2) LP: Smith (1-1)
2B: SM, Stockwell FSU, Tiffanie Marsh, Danielle Belliveau
3B: SM, Kristen Duross FSU, Shely Phillips, Jessica Anthony
HR: SM, Lillian Cooper
RBI: SM, Stockwell 3, Cooper 3, Duross 3, Allison Pillar, Rachel Edson
FSU, Helen Falzone 3, Casey Fanning 2, Philips, Belliveau, Smith, Anthony, Kourtney Kacian
Repeat Hitters: SM, Edson FSU, Marsh 3, Falzone, Belliveau
–cac–
