NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass.  – Sophomore Belle Snyder (Epping, N.H.) pitched an eight-inning shut out and senior Kaitlyn Nelson (Guildhall, Vermont/White Mountains Regional) and junior Lauren Leidemann-Smith each had an RBI in the eighth inning to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 2-0 (8 inn) win over the UMass Dartmough Corsairs at the UMD Softball Park in game two of a Little East Conference doubleheader. UMD won game one 8-0 (5 inn.)
 
THE BASICS:
Records:
Southern Maine (13-12, 5-3 LEC)
UMass Dartmouth (20-8-1, 5-3 LEC)
 
Pitching Game 1 – UMD 8, USM 0 (5 inn)
Winning Pitcher: UMD, Jill Richards (11-3), 5.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walks, 5 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher:  SM, Lauren Merrill (6-5), 4.1 IP, 8 runs (5 earned), 7 hits, 3 walks, 0 strikeouts
 
Pitching Game 2 – Southern Maine 2, UMD 0 (8 inn)
Winning Pitcher: SM, Belle Snyder (6-3), 8.0 IP, 0 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher: UMD, Jill Richards (11-4), 8.0 IP, 2 runs (1 earned), 6 hits, 0 walks, 6 strikeouts
 
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME ONE: UMD 8, USM 0 (5 inn)

• UMass Dartmouth used doubles from Lindsay Chubbuck and Larissa Piessens and took advantage of two Husky fielding errors to score four runs in the bottom of the first setting the stage for a game one win. Chubbuck doubled in the Corsairs first two runs, after a walk and a fielding error.  Piessens picked up an RBI with a two-out double to left before scoring UMD's fourth run on a second Husky fielding error.  
• UMD starter Jill Richards was in control of the start and did not yield a hit to the Huskies, picking up her 11^th win of the season.  Richards retired seven Huskies in order after giving up a hit-by-pitch in the first. Her streak was stopped in the fourth when she issued a lead off walk. After the walk, Richards retired the next six, including two consecutive Ks in the top of the fifth as UMD lead 4-0.
• In the home half of the fifth, UMD struck for four more runs on six hits to invoke the eight-run rule. With the bases loaded and one out, Richards knocked in the first run of the inning with a single through the left side. She was followed by RBI singles from Hailey Lyons, Piessens and Averi Soares.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME TWO: USM 2, UMD 0 (8 inn)

• Southern Maine bounced back to earn the split in game two thanks to Husky starter sophomore Belle Snyder (Epping, N.H.) and timely production at the plate from junior Lauren Leidemann-Smith (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) and senior Kaitlyn Nelson (Guildhall, Vermont/White Mountains Regional).  Snyder went eight full innings, scattering seven hits (all singles) and a pair of walks while striking out six to earn her sixth win of the season (6-3).
• Both teams were scoreless through seven innings, as Richards  - UMD's back-to-back starter – and Snyder kept their opponents off the bases.  Snyder worked her way out a runner on third in the second, while Richards did not allow a USM runner beyond second base through regulation.
• In the top of the seventh, Richards got three consecutive ground outs from the Husky hitters, while Snyder retired the Corsairs in order setting up extra innings.  
• In the top of the eighth, USM's bats came alive collecting three of its six hits in the game. Junior Hannah Shields (Buckfield, Maine) led off the inning with a single through the right side, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from (Auburn, Mass.). Mulcahy landed at first following a Corsair error. USM loaded the bases on a single through the left side from senior Lauren Miller (St. George, Maine/Camden Hills).
• Nelson drove in USM's first run with a sacrifice fly to center.  UMD got the second out on a pop-up to keep the game at 1-0 USM, but Leidemann-Smith came through in the clutch with a single driving in Mulcahy.
• In the eighth, Snyder continued to pitch well, getting the first out on an infield fly before working around a pair of singles to get another pop up and a strikeout to end the threat.

 
UP NEXT:
Southern Maine hosts Colby College in a non-conference doubleheader on Monday (4:00 pm).