With the pair of wins, Southern Maine runs its win-streak to seven games and improves its overall record to 22-14. UMaine Farmington falls to 4-17 running its winless streak to four games. 

GAME ONE:

             Millett turned in another strong performance in the circle for the Huskies to earn her fourth straight victory tossing a three-hit shutout against the Beavers. Earning her second consecutive shutout, Millett has not surrendered an earn run in the last 30 innings.  The Huskies' freshman improved to 12-7 win the win.

            Despite collecting eight hits off of UMF starter junior Emily Vitone (Wetminster, Mass./Oakmont), the Huskies struggled to score runs as the Beavers turned in some strong defensive plays.  After two scoreless innings, the Huskies seemed poised for a big inning in the bottom of the third when they loaded the bases with three consecutive singles to lead off the inning.  The UMF defense came up big to hold USM scoreless recording three consecutive force plays at home, including an impressive off balance throw to the plate from Beaver sophomore SS Katie Clark (Westbrook, Maine).

            With Millett in control, however, the Huskies generated all the runs they needed in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Junior Jen Lynch (Portland, Maine/Deering) connected with a one-out hit to left center for her fifth double of the season and then advanced to third on a pinch-hit single from sophomore Allison Pillar (Hollis, Maine/Bonny Eagle).  Lynch touched home plate following a clutch sacrifice fly from freshman Chantal Bisson (Libson, Maine) to give the Huskies the 1-0 lead.

            With the lead in place, Millett held the Beavers scoreless over the next three innings.

GAME TWO:

             In the second game, freshman Amber Kelly (Berwick, Maine/Noble) produced in the circle and at the plate to help USM to its seventh straight win. Allowing just two hits and a walk over four innings of work, Kelly picked up for more strikeouts to make her season total 57 on the season while improving to 9-6 on the season and earning her second shutout win of the season.

            At the plate, Kelly was part of a nine-hit attack for the Huskies, driving in a pair of runs and scoring one with a 1-for-3 effort at the plate.  Huskies' junior Mary Caron (Lewiston, Maine/St. Dominic's) was 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in three runs and scoring two.  Among her two hits, were Caron's second home run of the season that cleared the Huskies' centerfield fence (225) that forced the eight-run mercy rule in the bottom of the fourth.

            The Huskies did a bulk of their damage in the bottom of the third.  Southern Maine scored seven runs on seven hits and a walk.  Huskies' DH freshman Becca Howell (Limington, Maine/Bonny Eagle) collected the first hit of her career to ignite the Huskies' rally when she laced a single down the left field line, Bisson followed with a single of her own before senior Lilly Cooper (Lamoine, Maine/Ellsworth) drew a walk setting up bases loaded with no outs. 

            With runners in scoring position, the Huskies did not waste the opportunity as Caron notched an RBI single to right field, followed by a sacrifice fly to center field from freshman Courtney Davis (Woburn, Mass.).  Ahead 2-0, senior Kristen Duross (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) collected USM's third hit of the inning with a single up the middle to again load the bases.  Kelly helped her own cause with a single down the left field line to drive in a pair of runs to make it 4-0, before sophomore Danni Humphrey (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) plated the Huskies fifth run with an RBI single to left field. 

            UMF starter sophomore Courtney Fowler (Greensboro, N.C./Maine Central Institute) got the Beavers' second out on the next batter, but Howell, who lead off the inning, singled up the middle to drive in two runs collected her second career hit and her first two collegiate RBIs.

            Cushioned by a large lead, Kelly kept UMF off the scoreboard through the fourth before being lifted in favor of sophomore Desiree Benner (Friendship, Maine/Medomak Valley).  Benner pitched the final inning yielding just one hit in a scoreless top of the fifth.  Fowler took the loss for UMF allowing seven earned runs on eight hits and a walk in 2.2 innings.  Vitone returned for the Beavers in the third, pitching 1.1 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit while striking out two.

            Southern Maine hosts Little East Conference opponent Western Connecticut State on Saturday (12:00 p.m.) in a doubleheader.  The Huskies will be celebrating seniors Kristen Duross and Lily Cooper as part of Senior Day.  UMaine Farmington hosts New England College in a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader on Friday (3:00 p.m.).     

-cac-