KISSIMMEE, Fla. –   the University of Southern Maine Huskies dropped of games in their final contests in Florida Saturday morning. Southern Maine fell 8-3 to Wisconsin La Crosse and then suffered a narrow defeat 4-2 against Wisconsin Eau Claire.

 
THE BASICS:
Game 1 - Records:
Wisconsin La Crosse (11-5)
Southern Maine (3-7) 
Score: Wisconsin La Crosse 8, Southern Maine 3
 
Game – 2 Records: 
Southern Maine (3-8)
Wisconsin Eau Claire (6-2)
Score: Wisconsin Eau Claire 4, Southern Maine 2 
 
 
Pitching – Southern Maine vs. Wisconsin La Crosse
Winning Pitcher:  UWL Elise Weinzierl (6-1), 7.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 6 hits, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts.
Losing Pitcher:  SM, Lauren Merrill (1-3), 2.0 innings pitched, 4 runs (2 earned), 4 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
 
Pitching – Southern Maine vs. Wisconsin Eau Claire
Winning Pitcher:  UWE, Jacie Shultz (2-0), 5.0 IP, 2 runs, 4 hits, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher:  SM, Belle Snyder (1-1), 6.0 IP, 4 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Save: UWE, Lauren Gamme (2), 2.0 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
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HOW IT HAPPENED vs. Wisconsin La Crosse

• Wisconsin Lacrosse led 4-0 after the first two innings highlighted by a two RBI single from Jordyn McCormack. McCormack helped the Eagles to a 6-0 lead after the top of the fourth collecting another RBI on a single.
• The Eagles led USM 8-0 after the top of the sixth on a two-run single up the middle from Anna Jensen.  Jensen took advantage of a Husky fielding error that extended the inning to snag her second hit and second RBI of the game.
• Facing an inning-shortened game, USM rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Meaghan Dufresne (Mattapoisett, Mass./Old Rochester Regional) led of the inning with a single and advanced to third on a single from freshman Morgan Roast (Gorham, Maine). With runners on third and second following a passed ball, Husky senior Lauren Miller (St. George, Maine/Camden Hills Regional) had a two RBI single to center to make it 8-3.  Advancing to second on the same play on the throw, Miller took third on a ground out before coming around to touch home on a passed ball for an 8-3 game.
• Junior Hannah Shields (Buckfield, Maine) and sophomore Madison Day (Otisfield, Maine/Oxford Hills) followed with back-to-back two-out singles but UWL pitcher Elise Weinzierl ended the threat with a strikeout.
• Neither team scored in the seventh for the 8-3 final.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. Wisconsin Eau Claire  

• Sadie Erickson connected on a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to put the Blugolds up 4-2, and relief pitcher Lauren Gamme earned the save working around a single in the sixth and a lead off walk and passed ball in the seventh to seal the win.
• Southern Maine rallied to tie the score twice in the game. After going down 1-0 after the first inning, Dufrense had an RBI single to right field to score the Huskies' first run of the game. Dufrense drove in Day who had led off the inning with a single to right and got into scoring position with a ground out.
• Eau Claire regained its lead in the bottom of two on an RBI ground out, but USM answered right back in the top of the third to tie it up at 2-2. Miller led off the inning with a bunt single down the third base side, and then stole second.  After a walk, Miller stole third and then came around to score on a sacrifice fly RBI to center field from Shields.
• The game remained tied as both pitchers continued to throw solid games.  Husky starter Belle Snyder (Epping, N.H.) picked up two of her six strikeouts in the fourth.

 
 
UP NEXT:
Southern Maine heads home and is schedule to host University of New England in a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday, March 27 (3:00 pm).