GORHAM, Maine – Freshman Lauren Merrill (Bethel, Maine/Oxford Hills) earned the win in the circle in game one scattering six hits and three walks over seven innings as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated Rhode Island College 7-1 in the opener of a non-conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the USM Softball Stadium.  The Huskies dropped game two, after falling behind 10-0 in the top of the first, 13-9.
            With the split, Southern Maine is now 10-1-1.  Rhode Island College moves to  2-7 overall with the game two win. The Huskies swept RIC on Friday in Little East Conference action and have a 3-1 mark in against the Anchormen in 2021. .
            The Huskies are back in action at home on Tuesday (4:00 pm) hosting local rival St. Joseph's College (Maine) in a non-conference doubleheader. Fans are not permitted at Husky athletic contests at this time, but can follow USM Athletics online at southernmainehuskies.com
 
GAME ONE: Southern Maine 7, Rhode Island College 1

• Taking advantage of a fielding error, Rhode Island College jumped ahead of the Huskies 1-0 in the top of the first and remained in front through  two and a half innings.
• Senior Ashley Tinsman (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) drove in the game-tying run in the bottom of the third, and the scored remained 1-1 through the top of the fifth.
• The Huskies exploded for six runs in the home half of the fifth inning on five hits a walk, and a RIC fielding error.
• Merrill and freshman Hannah Shields (Buckfield, Maine) led off the inning with back-to-back singles and then advanced a base on a wild pitch. Rookie Belle Snyder (Epping, N.H.) drew a walk to load the bases before junior Kaitlyn Nelson (Guildhall, Vermont/White Mountains Regional) put USM in front 3-1 with a two-run single through the right side.
• Tinsman followed with a SAC fly, and senior Alexis Brown (Malden, Mass.) singled to right field for another run to make it 5-1 in favor of the Huskies.  Rookie Madison Day (Otisfield, Maine/Oxford Hills) made it 6-1 with an RBI double to the left field game, and senior Samantha Hauck (Painted Post, N.Y./Corning Painted Post) made it 7-1 with a sacrifice fly to center field before the side was retired.
• With a lead in hand, Merrill limited RIC to a pair of singles and a walk in their final two times at the plate to earn the win.  The Huskies' freshman hurler, who allowed one unearned run in the win,  finished the game with six strikeouts and is 2-0 on the season. 
• RIC hurler freshman Tatiana Burcy (Boston, Mass.) took the loss. She allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks. 

 
GAME TWO: Rhode Island College 13, Southern Maine 9

• RIC tagged USM for 10 runs in the top of the first and held off the Huskies over the next six innings to earn the win. USM made three fielding errors during the game costing runs.
• Led by a 4-for-5 effort from Avery Katz (Brookfield, Conn.) the Anchormen rapped out 11 hits off of the Huskies and collected five walks. Katz drove in two runs, while sophomore Alexis LeBelle (Warwick, R.I./Toll Gate) had a team-high three RBI.  Burcy, playing right field for game two, was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. 
• RIC freshman Caitlin Lopez (Cranston, R.I.) improved to 2-2 in the circle.  She allowed nine runs (six earned) in seven innings pitched.  She gave up 12 hits and six walks while striking out four.
• Day and sophomore Lauren Liedemann-Smith (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) led the Huskies' offensively each collecting three hits. Day was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Liedemann-Smith went 3-for-3 with a runs scored and two RBI.  Nelson and Sndyer were both 2-for-4.  Shields had a pair of RBI, going 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.
• Husky rookie Rona Scott (Beverly, Mass.), making her first appearance in the collegiate ranks, took the loss. She allowed six runs, three earned, on three hits and three walks in 0.2 innings.  Snyder replaced Scott allowing four runs (all unearned) on two hits and two walks as the Huskies' made a costly fielding error and RIC took advantage with timely hits
• USM graduate student Kirsten Pelletier (West Gardiner, Maine/Messalonskee) pitched well in long relief. She allowed three runs (all unearned) on six hits and did not issue a walk.  She struck out six.