GORHAM, Maine -  Senior Hannah Shields (Buckfield, Maine) drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10^th in game one, and freshman Ella Bezanson (Amesbury, Mass.) knocked an RBI single to right to give the Huskies a 3-2 walk-off win in game two as the University of Southern Maine swept the St. Joseph's College Monks in a non-conference doubleheader Thursday evening at the USM Softball Stadium. 
 
THE SERIES:
Today's doubleheader marked 82^nd and 83^rd meetings between the University of Southern Maine and Saint Joseph's College (Maine).  The Huskies lead the overall series 43-40.  Southern Maine has won the last six consecutively, and defeated the Monks 11-10 (13 innings) and 12-1 in 2022 in Standish. 
 
THE BASICS:
Game 1 - Records:
Saint Joseph's (15-14)
Southern Maine (12-15) 
Score: Southern Maine 8, St. Joseph's 7 – 10 innings
 
Game – 2 Records: 
Saint Joseph's (15-15)
Southern Maine (13-15) 
Score: Southern Maine 3, St. Joseph's 2
 
Pitching – Southern Maine vs. SJC – Game 1
Winning Pitcher: SM, Belle Snyder (4-7), 4.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 0 earned, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher: SJC, Sydney Hatch (2-5), 4.0 IP, 3 hits, 4 runs, 1 earned, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
Save: None
 
Pitching – Southern Maine vs. SJC – Game 2
Winning Pitcher: SM, Lexus McIntosh (2-2), 7.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher: SJC, Emily Eagleston (3-7), 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 3 runs, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts
Save: None
 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. SJC Game 1:

• Down 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth, freshman Kendell Migliorini (Salem, N.H.) singled in the first run of the inning with a hit to right field.  Junior Jordan Cummings (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little) entered to run for Migliorini, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring the game-tying run on a pinch hit single to left from junior Dory Kulis (Georgetown, Maine/Morse). The Huskies threatened to end the inning with the bases loaded, but Saint Joseph's got the final out to head to the top of the 10^th.
• SJC had runners on first and second after Rylee Page drew a walk to lead off the inning, before Charlotte Cloutier loaded the bases with a one-out single up the middle.  USM freshman Olivia Levasseur (Amesbury, Mass.) made a diving grab on a line drive towards second base to keep the Monks off the scoreboard, and reliever junior Belle Snyder (Epping, N.H.) got the strikeout to end the inning.
• Still tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the 10^th, the Huskies' runner sophomore Meaghan Dufresne (Mattapoisett, Mass./Old Rochester Regional) moved to third on a wild pitch, and then scored the game-winning run on a grounder towards short from Shields for the RBI.
• SJC led the game early scoring twice in the top of the first on a two-run single from Lydia Goodnough. USM trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the second on an RBI ground out from Migliorini before junior Lauren Merrill (Bethel, Maine/Oxford Hills) gave USM a 4-2 lead with a three-run double to the gap in right.
• SJC's Paige Connery singled in a run in the sixth and Sylvia Foley had an RBI single to right in the seventh to tie the game up and force extra innings.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. SJC Game 2:

• After a scoreless three innings, the Monks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth.  Foley had an RBI double to the gap in left to score the first run of the game, while Page had a sacrifice fly RBI to left for the 2-0 advantage.
• SJC starter Emily Eagleston kept the Huskies off of the board until the bottom of the sixth, working her way out of a jam in the fourth inning with two runners on and one out.  In the fifth, Eagleston sat the Huskies' batters in order on a strikeout and two groundouts.
• Eagleston continued to roll in the sixth getting the first two Huskies' batters on a ground out and a fly out before USM used a two-out rally to tie the game up at 2-2.  Merrill laced a double down the left field line to give USM a runner in scoring position and senior Rona Scott (Beverly, Mass.) tied the game up with one swing launching a ball over the left field fence for a two-run home. 
• In the seventh, SJC had runners on first and second with back-to-back walks, but Southern Maine freshman Lexus McIntosh (Lancester, N.H./White Mountains Regional) settled in, getting a strikeout for the first out, and a pair of ground outs to end the threat.
• In the seventh, Migliorini singled through the left side, and junior Madison Day (Otisfield, Maine/Oxford Hills) singled to short to make it two on and no outs.  Levasseur connected on a bunt single to load the bases before Bezanson entered to pinch hit.  Coming through in the clutch, Bezanson dropped a single into right for the RBI and the win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• .Bezanson is 3-for-8 with three RBI as a pinch-hitter this season.
• Scott's home run is her third of the season, and fifth of her career. Her two RBI in game two gives her 16 for the 2023 seaosn and 64 for her career, moving her into a tie for 16^th in USM career records with Husky Hall of Famer Darci Holland '04 (2001-2004). 
• Merrill finished the doubleheader 4-for-7 at the plate with two runs scored, three RBI and two doubles. 

 
UP NEXT:
Southern Maine returns to Little East Conference action on Saturday, April 22 (1:00/3:00 pm) against Keene State College.
 
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