GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore Lauren Leidemann-Smith (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) went 5-for-7 at the plate with three runs batted in to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a win and a tie versus the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs in a non-conference softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.
            The Huskies rallied for a game one win, defeating UMass Dartmouth 5-4 in eight innings, and then took a tie game with the Corsairs, 2-2, in the second after it was called due to darkness.   The Huskies 7-0-1 start is the best since the 1979 season when Southern Maine went 7-1 through the first eight games of the season. The Corsairs or 0-5-1 on the season.  USM defeated UMD last weekend in LEC play and are 2-0 in the conference action. 
            Leidemann-Smith was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the opener, and had a two-run home run in the second game of the doubleheader, finishing the game 2-for-3 at the plate.
            Southern Maine is back in action on Friday at Rhode Island College (2:00 pm) for a Little East Conference doubleheader.  The Huskies will have a quick turn around and host RIC on Saturday (2:00 pm) in a non-conference doubleheader.
GAME ONE: Southern Maine 5, UMass Dartmouth 4 (8 innings)

• Trailing 2-0 headed to the top of the seventh, USM took advantage of a pair of Corsair errors and two RBI singles to tie the game up and force extra innings.  Two infield errors put the Huskies' first two runners on, and sophomore Lauren Leidemann-Smith (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) connected with a single to load the bases.  Senior Samantha Hauck (Painted Post, N.Y./Corning Painted Post) followed with an RBI single to score freshman Belle Snyder (Epping, N.H.), and freshman Hannah Shields (Buckfield, Maine) knocked in the game-tying run with a single.
• UMD threatened to end the game in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third and one out after a double from Dyonna Rodas and a single Victoria Rosetti, but Husky freshman Lauren Merrill got out number two with a strikeout and then ended the threat with a pop out to shortstop.
• The Huskies scored three runs in the top of the eight on RBI doubles from sophomore Rona Scott (Beverly, Mass.), Leidemann-Smith and an RBI single from Hauck to lead the Corsairs 5-2.  However, UMD roared back with two runs in the home half of the inning, on an RBI triple from Kylie Fletcher and a passed ball to trail by just a run 5-4 with no outs. 
• With no outs and the Corsairs' bats lively, USM replaced Merrill with senior Alexis Brown (Malden, Mass.). Brown earned the save sandwiching three outs around a double for the save.
• Merrill earned her first win of the season and of her intercollegiate career. Merrill scattered six hits and a walk over seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned) for the win, and struck out four.  Brown picked up the save, pitching the final three outs allowing one hit.
• UMD's Jill Richards absorbed the loss, pitching the full eight innings. She allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and three walks, and had five strikeouts. 

 
GAME TWO: Southern Maine 2, UMass Dartmouth 2 – FINAL, TIE.

• Liedemann-Smith collected her first home run as a Husky cranking out a two-out,  two-run home run in the top of the first inning to put Southern Maine ahead early.  Liedemann-Smith was able to collect the RBI after Brown connected on a two-out single.
• The Huskies remained in front of the Corsairs until the bottom of the fifth when UMD struck for two runs on two hits. UMD's Leah Major stroked a two-run single with a runner on second and third with two outs.
• Husky freshman Snyder was strong on the mound before yielding the two runs in the fifth.  She left the game firing 5.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks.  She was replaced by graduate student Kristen Pelletier (West Gardiner, Maine/Messalonskee) who pitched the final 1.2 innings, striking out four and allowing a hit.   
• Scott saved a potential game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh, making a diving stab at a driven ball down the first base line to end the game.
• UMD's Kaitlyn Shirshac scattered four hits and a walk over seven innings in the no decision. She struck out eight Husky batters including the final three consecutively in the top of the seventh.