GORHAM, Maine -  Junior Lauren Merrill (Bethel, Maine/Oxford Hills) pitched a four-hit shutout and the University of Southern Maine Huskies used some strong base-running in the bottom of the fifth to defeat the Bowdoin College Polar Bears 1-0 in game one of a non-conference softball doubleheader Tuesday evening at the USM Softball Stadium.  Bowdoin picked up the 5-2 win in game two for the split.
 
THE SERIES:
Today's doubleheader marked 63^rd and 64^th meeting between University of Southern Maine and Bowdoin College. Bowdoin leads the overall series 35-28-1.  The last series between the Huskies and Polar Bears was during the 2019 season.  USM and Bowdoin split with Bowdoin winning game one 9-4, and USM winning game two 3-1.  Southern Maine is 4-7-1 in its last 12 matchups with Bowdoin
 
THE BASICS:
Game 1 - Records:
Bowdoin (17-14)
Southern Maine (11-14) 
Score: Southern Maine 1, Bowdoin 0
 
Game – 2 Records: 
Bowdoin (18-14)
Southern Maine (11-15) 
Score:  Bowdoin 5, Southern Maine 2
 
Pitching – Southern Maine vs. Bowdoin – Game 1
Winning Pitcher:  SM, Lauren Merrill (7-6), 7.0 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher:  B, Maddie Current (8-5), 3.0 IP, 1 hit, 1 run (0 earned), 0 walks, 1 strikeout
Save: NONE
 
Pitching – Southern Maine vs. Bowdoin – Game 2
Winning Pitcher: B, Abby Allen (1-1), 4.0 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 0 earned), 0 walks, 3 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher:  SM, Belle Snyder (3-7), 4.2 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts
Save: NONE
 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. Bowdoin Game 1:

• Merrill turned in a strong performance in the circle, scattering four hits over seven innings to lead USM to the win.
• Bowdoin starter Ava Biasotti did not allow a hit in her three innings of work, and reliever Maddie Current kept USM hitless until the bottom of the fifth. 
• With the score tied at 0-0, Husky senior Rona Scott (Beverly, Mass.) led off the inning with a single up the middle.  Replaced by pinch runner Brook Kulis (Georgetown, Maine/Morse) the Huskies got a runner in scoring position on a sacrifice but from senior Hannah Shields (Buckfield, Maine).  Kulis beat out a throw to third on an infield ground out to put herself in scoring position and take advantage of a passed ball for the lone run of the game.
• Holding a narrow 1-0 lead, Merrill yielded a lead off walk in the sixth but snagged a line drive on the next batter and doubled off the runner for a quick two outs.  She closed the inning with a grounder to first.
• In the seventh, Merrill forced three consecutive ground outs to pick up the win.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. Bowdoin Game 2:

• Down 1-0 through four innings, Bowdoin scored three runs in the top of the fifth and two more in the seventh to secure a 5-2 win in game number two. Bowdoin's Chloe Garcia was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, while Kyla Gary was 2-for-3 with a two RBI. 
• Southern Maine's Scott drove in the Huskies first run of the game with a single through the left side to give USM its 1-0 lead. She finished the game 3-for-3 with a double and two singles.
• Lily Armstrong's RBI double to the gap in right highlighted the Polar Bears' three-run fifth.
• Bowdoin added two more runs in the top of the seventh using three hits, including doubles from Garcia and Gary.  Gary's double to left drove in both of the Polar Bear runs.
• Shields took one back for the Huskies in the bottom of the seventh with a double to center field to score freshman Olivia Levasseur (Amesbury, Mass.).  Levasseur led off the inning with a single to left.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Huskies' junior shortstop Madison Day (Otisfield, Maine/Oxford Hills) collected her 100^th career hit during the double header.
• Merrill's shutout is her fifth of the season, and ninth of her career.

 
UP NEXT:
Southern Maine takes on Saint Joseph's College (Maine) at home on Thursday (4:00/6:00 pm).  The Huskies return to Little East Conference action on Saturday, April 22 (1:00/3:00 pm) against Keene State College.
 
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