With the split Southern Maine stands at 5-3.  It is the first extra-winning win for the Huskies since the 2009 season when they defeated UMass Dartmouth in 12-innings 8-7.  With the win, MCLA improved to 1-2 on the season. SUNY-Geneseo dropped to 1-1 with the loss.

Trailing 4-1 after six innings, Southern Maine parlayed three hits, a walk and two errors into five runs to jump ahead of SUNY-Geneseo 6-4.  Junior Mary Caron (Lewiston, Maine/St. Dominic's) and Jen Lynch (Portland, Maine/Deering) each had RBIs in the inning USM. 

            The Knights bounced back with pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. With two down and runners on second and third, SUNY-Geneseo scored the equalizing runs on a two-run double down the line Courtney Budynas forcing the extra innings.  It was one of two doubles in the game for Budynas and one of her three hits in a 3-for-5 effort at the plate. 

            Over the next three innings both teams went run for run with USM and SUNY-Geneseo scoring two runs each in the eighth, one in the ninth and one in the 10th.  In the 11th inning both teams held each other scoreless. The Huskies went down in order in the top of the 11th, while SUNY-Geneseo threatened for the win, advancing a runner to third with one down, before USM freshman Amber Kelly (Berwick, Maine/Noble) got a pop out and a ground out moving the game to the 12th inning.

            In the top of the 12th, the Huskies took advantage of a passed ball to score an unearned run to jump ahead 11-10.  In the bottom the 12th however, SUNY-Geneseo rallied with a double from freshman Tori Fahie (Center Moriches, N.Y.).  The Knights looked set to pull out the win as senior Katie Muller (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) stroked a double of her own to make it runners on second and third with one out, but USM again got timely outs to sent the game into the 13th inning. 

            Southern Maine scored hits four runs in the 13th despite registering just one hit with smart base running while taking advantage of three passed balls and two walks in the inning.  After advancing to third on a passed ball, sophomore Amanda Hendrickson-Belloguet (Friendship, Maine/Medomak Valley) came around to score the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice RBI from sophomore Samantha Crosman (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood), beating out a throw to the plate.

            Two more passed balls and walks to sophomore Allison Pillar (Hollis, Maine/Bonny Eagle) and freshman Taylor Lux (Arundel, Maine/Thornton Academy) and the Huskies had the bases loaded with no outs.  Lynch drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Crosman, before Caron collected on RBI single to center field to bring home Pillar. The Huskies scored their fourth and final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field from Courtney Davis (Woburn, Mass.) to make a 15-11 lead.

            In the bottom of the inning, Kelly got the first out on a fly out to left field before senior Kayleigh Blersch (Lancaster, N.Y.) doubled in Brown for a 15-12 USM lead.  With a runner on second, Kelly retired Budynas with a fly out and then struck out sophomore Alyssa Presutti (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) for the win.

            Kelly, who started the game for the Huskies and was relieved by classmate Erika Millett (Whitefield, N.H./White Mountains Regional) for 5.2 innings, after returning late in the game earned the win.  Kelly pitched the first 4.1 innings of the game before being lifted for Millet with the Huskies trailing 3-1.  Millett fired the next 5.2 innings allowing three earned runs (six total) on eight hits.  Millet was solid in relief striking out one without yielding a walk. Kelly returned to the circle in the bottom of the 11th and allowed two runs on three hits.  Kelly finished with 7.1 innings pitched, allowing four earned runs (six total) on 11 hits. Kelly did not walk a batter and struck out three.

            The Knights used four pitchers in the game.  Junior Mikayla Moore (Stillwater, N.Y.) took the loss, her first of the season, allowing two earned runs (four total) in six innings pitched on five hits and two base on balls.

            In the first game, MCLA defeated the Huskies, scoring two runs on nine hits.  MCLA jumped ahead of USM in the top of the third with an RBI ground out from junior Michaela Dinicola (Lanesboro, Mass./Mt. Greylock). The Trailblazers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with a home run from senior Amanda Meczywor (Adams, Mass./Hoosac Valley).

            MCLA Rachel Quackenbush earned the win going the full seven innings.  Quackenbush worked her way to the shut out giving up seven hits and two walks, but struck out seven.  Millett pitched a solid game in the loss allowing two earned runs on nine hits and a walk. She struck out four.

            Southern Maine connected on seven hits in the game but left 10 runners on base throughout the game, including two base runners in the bottom of the seventh.

Southern Maine continues on in its Florida games on Monday against Western New England University (11:00 a.m.) and Lancaster Bible College (1:00 p.m.).  

–cac–