GORHAM, Maine  – Junior Brittany Plowman (Scarborough, Maine) dropped in a walk-off single to shallow centerfield in the bottom of the eight inning to help the University of Southern Maine Huskies complete the comeback and earn a 6-5 (8 inning) win over the Keene State College Owls in the second game of a Little East Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at USM Softball Stadium. 

            With the series split, Southern Maine is 10-11 overall and 2-2 in the Little East.  Keene State is 4-12 overall and 1-3 in the Little East.  

GAME ONE: Keene Sate 5, Southern Maine 4

            Keene State used a four-run second inning and then held off the Huskies in the final two innings to earn a 5-4 win over the Huskies in game one of the doubleheader.  Junior Moly St. Germain (Dover, N.H.) earned the win for the Owls in the circle allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a pair of walks.  St. Germain struck out seven in the win. Sophomore Courtney Votto (Durham, Conn./Coginchaug) was 3-for-4 at the plate to lead a 12-hit attack for the Owls, scoring two runs and driving in one.  Senior Shae Crosby (Salem, Conn./Lyme) also went 3-for-4, notching two RBI.  

            USM led early plating two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run double from senior Courtney Davis (Woburn, Mass.). Davis' two-out double drove in classmate Taylor Lux (Arundel, Maine/Thornton Academy) and freshman Hannah Kenney (Oxford, Maine/Oxford Hills).  Lux reached with a two-out double of her own, and moved to third on a single from Kenney.  KSC answered right back in its next at-bat, taking the 4-2 lead with four hits in the top of the second. Sophomore Mikayla Pacy (Salem, N.H.) and Crosby each had a two-run single in the inning. 

            The score remained unchanged through the next two innings before the Owls went up 5-1 on the Huskies in the top of the fifth when Votto launched a solo home run over the center field fence. USM took one back in the bottom of the sixth when Kenney touched home on a throwing error, and then trimmed the lead to a single run, 5-4, in the bottom of the seventh. USM's first two hitters, Plowman and sophomore Erin Martin (Biddeford, Maine) each reached on singles to start the inning, before a fielder's choice ground out left it at runners on first and third with one out.  Lux drove a sacrifice fly to left for the Huskies' run before St. Germain shut down the rally attempt with a strikeout to end the game.  

            Martin and Davis were repeat hitters for the Huskies. Martin was 2-for-4, while Davis was 2-for-3 with two RBI.  Senior Amber Kelly (Berwick, Maine/Noble) took the loss, pitching two innings and allowing four earned runs on six hits and a walk with a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore Rebecca Ackerson (Whitefield, Maine/Hall-Dale) pitched well in relief. Ackerson pitched five full, allowing one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out four.  

GAME TWO: Southern Maine 6, Keene State 5 (8 inn). 

            Down 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Southern Maine's bats came alive for five hits and four runs to knot the game up at 5-5 and force extra innings.  Freshman Kathleen Rattazzi (Tuxedo, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Academy) started the rally with a perfectly placed bunt single and was followed by singles from Plowman, Lux, Davis, and Kenney for the rally. 

            After the Rattazzi bunt single, Plowman used her speed to earn a consecutive bunt single for USM, before Lux laced a shot up the middle to load the bases.  With runners in scoring position and one out, Davis hit one through the right side to score Rattazzi. Plowman raced to home, beating the throw which bounced passed the KSC catcher allowing Lux to cross home plate.  Freshman Sarah Howe (Lyman, Maine/Massabesic) replaced Davis at third as a pinch runner, and Kenney drove her in with a single through the right side for the equalizer.  

            In the top of the eighth, USM sophomore Alexis Brown (Malden, Mass.) got the first two batters out in order on a grounder and a strikeout before yielding a single up the middle, but bounced back getting the final out snagging a line drive. In the home half of the inning, the Huskies were quickly down two outs before Martin drew a walk, and then stole second. In a lengthy at-bat, Plowman was finally able to connect, slapping the ball over the top of a drawn in defense to score Martin and in the win.  

            USM starter Madison Greene (Moultonborough, N.H.) had a no decision after 4.1 innings pitched.  She allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits, while striking out two.  Brown earned the win, pitching the final 3.2 innings.  She worked her way out of a tough fifth inning inheriting a bases loaded jam to get the final two outs on a force out at home, and a strikeout.  Over the next three innings, Brown continued to pitch strong and allowed one earned run on three hits and a walk while fanning three.  KSC used three pitchers.  Freshman Olivia McGrath (Dorchester, Mass.) started and worked the first 5.1 innings. McGrath allowed one earned run on six hits and a walk.  Freshman Alexis Blanchette (Hopkinton, N.H.) took over for one inning allowing four earned runs on four hits with a strikeout.  St. Germain was the tough luck loser pitching the final 1.1, allowing one earned run on two hits and a walk.  

            Southern Maine hosts University of New England on Tuesday (3:00 p.m.) in a non-conference doubleheader.    

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