After 31 straight games away from home the University of Maine softball team was finally able to step onto Kessock Field in Orono Thursday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader against Holy Cross to open their home schedule.
In the first game of the day Maine was able to rally on two different occasions to pick up an 8-7 win. Erin Bengstons RBI double, an RBI groundout by Taylor Wahler, and a passed ball scoring Bengston made it 3-0 Crusaders in the top of the first. Maddie Decker got the Bears back even with the score still 3-0 in the fourth with a three run homer to make it 3-3.
Holy Cross responded though in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from Bailey Chavez, and a two run homer by Jessie Nagel to restore a three run lead 6-3. A huge bottom of the sixth by Maine made the difference in the game with a five run outburst. An RBI single by Makayla Livingston, a throwing error to score Hailey Perry, and another error by the Crusaders catcher scored another runner to make it 6-6. Kya Enos then tripled down the line in right field to put the Bears ahead 7-6, and scored when the right fielder threw the ball away trying to cut down Enos heading to third. Bengston reached on a fielders choice in the seventh to score a run, but Kyleigh O’Donell finished the Crusaders off a run short to get the win in relief in the circle.
Alexadra Held (3-12) took the loss in the circle for Holy Cross allowing six runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings. O’Donnell (3-5) was in relief of Gabbie Siciliano and got the win allowing two runs on three hits over 2.1 innings. Siciliano allowed four runs on five hits over her 4.2 innings. Jackie Brewster had three hits to lead the Crusaders, while Enos had two for the Bears.
In game two Holy Cross built a 3-0 lead and held on to pick up the split with a 3-2 victory. There was no score until the fourth when Hannah Horton reached on an error allowing a run to score unearned to make it 1-0. Sydney Burr made it 2-0 in the fifth with an RBI single, before Wahler extended to 3-0 with an RBI single in the sixth.
Laurine Germain reached with two outs in the sixth for Maine, and then freshman Keely Clark crushed her second career homer to left field to cut the deficit to 3-2. That is as close as the Bears would get however, as Crusaders pitcher Kelly Nelson struck out the side in Maines last at bat to end it.
Emily Reid (3-10) took the pitching loss for Maine allowing two runs (none earned) on four hits in 4.0 innings. Lilly Volk allowed no runs on three hits in 3.0 innings of relief. Nelson (5-13) was big in the circle in the win allowing two runs on four hits in 7.0 innings, but with 19 strikeouts. Chavez, Wahler, and Burr all had two hits in the Crusaders win. Clark had two hits for the Bears. HC is now 8-28, Maine is 10-23. Maine is scheduled to host a three game series with Albany this weekend beginning with a doubleheader at noontime Saturday.
