The defense did it again for the Bowdoin softball team. Bates was up 2-1 on Friday with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the seventh. Centerfielder Hillary Smyth '12 made a shoestring catch on a line drive with the presence of mind to quickly throw to Amy Hackett '12 at second base for a force out, who then threw it to Molly Nestor '11 to tag a runner out at third base for the first ever recorded triple play in Bowdoin history.
Bates took an early 2-0 lead in the contest, scoring one run in both the first and third innings. Shavonne Lord '10 drove in Jaime Paul '10 for Bowdoin's first run of the game in the bottom of the third.
Clare Ronan '10 took the momentum from the triple play into the bottom of the seventh inning, as she hit a walk-off, two-run single to clinch the 3-2 victory for the Polar Bears.
Julia Jacobs '10 pitched a complete game, allowing only seven hits and one earned run. In the effort, Jacobs earned her 40th career win.
On Saturday, the Polar Bears traveled to Lewiston for a doubleheader. Bowdoin needed just one win to earn a spot to the NESCAC tournament. Kara Nilan '11 dominated on the mound going all seven innings in a 9-3 win. She allowed just three hits and one earned run. "Our pitching was once again very good," said Head Coach Ryan Sullivan. The Polar Bear pitching has been stellar throughout the season and Sullivan said was pleased with the performances against Bates.
Hackett continued her hitting ways going 2-4 from the plate with a triple and two RBI. Starting catcher Ronan also went 2-4 and hit a leadoff home run to start the third inning.
Bates jumped out to a commanding 5-1 lead in game two, but Bowdoin rallied in the top of the seventh to score four and send the game into extra innings. Nestor hit a two-RBI double and Smyth tied the game with an RBI single.
In the top of the 10th inning, with Caroline Dewar '12 placed on second base to start the inning, Ronan blasted a two-run home run to gain the lead.
"We are so lucky to have Clare in the four spot," said Jacobs of her teammate. "She couldn't do her job any better."
Jacobs shut down the Bobcats in the bottom of the tenth to secure the 7-5 victory.
"Bates played very well and we accomplished what we set out to do which was first to qualify for the NESCAC playoffs, and second to sweep the series," said Sullivan.
With the three wins against Bates, the Polar Bears reached the 30-win mark for the first time in program history. Bowdoin also took second place behind Tufts (22-11, 10-2) in the NESCAC East division, and will travel to Williamstown, Mass. to play Williams in the first game of the playoffs on Friday.
"Williams looks like a good team, but we look better," said Smyth. "If we play like we can, and if everyone is hitting like we should be, we can definitely win this game."