The Bowdoin College softball team successfully swept the University of Maine-Farminton in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. With the 1-0 and 11-0 wins, the team improved their record to 8-13 this season.
The opening game commenced with a pitcher's duel. Melissa Dellatorre '14 struck out nine and permitted only four hits during the game. The Farminton pitcher Emma Vaillancourt prevented the team from scoring any runs despite nine hits, until the team's luck changed in the final inning.
Following Hilary Smyth's '12 walk, Bowdoin proceeded to load the bases. Amy Hackett '12 hit a looper which allowed Smyth to come home, scoring the only run and giving Bowdoin the win.
The Polar Bears achieved a mercy-rule victory in the second game of the doubleheader. The team won 11-0, as the offense expoded in the fourth and seventh innings. Tricia Thibodeau '13 struck out two and allowed only one hit in the game. Hackett reached base six times during the doubleheader.
In the team's NESCAC East opener, senior co-captain Kara Nilan earned a 3-1 victory on the mound for the Polar Bears by allowing just one hit. Nilan singled and scored on a triple by Toni DaCampo '13 to start the game. Hanna Wurgaft '14 singled, stole a base and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth for a 2-1 lead. The Polar Bears were able to hold on for the victory, eventually winning 3-1. Nilan struck out four and picked up three hits and an RBI for the team.
Despite a strong performance from Melissa DellaTorre '14, who allowed just two earned runs and struck out six, the Bantams claimed a 4-1 victory in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader. Amy Hackett '12 and Caroline Dewar '12 had two hits apiece for the Polar Bears. Gen Barlow '13 walked to lead off the top of the fifth inning and later came around to score on a Bantam error.
The second game lasted less than an hour, as Trinity started the opening frame with two runs and added five in the second. Nilan got the loss as the Bantams took advantage of four Bowdoin errors to earn the 9-0 victory.
"The two losses on Sunday were extremely frustrating," said senior co-captain Molly Nestor. "We didn't set the offensive tempo right off the bat and did not play soundly in the field...We know we are better than this."
The team returns to conference action as they host Colby (2-7, 0-0 NESCAC) on Friday at 4 p.m. and the Polar Bears travel to Waterville for a double header on Saturday.
"After the success of last season we know that everyone in the NESCAC is going to step up their game when they play against us," said Nestor. "We have to be better. If we do that and stop pressing, things will fall into place and we'll hit our stride.
-Elizabeth Maybank contributed to this report.