Game 1: Southern Maine 7, Bates 5
at Marcotte Field, Lewiston, Maine

SOUTHERN MAINE HOMERS SINK BATES SOFTBALL, 7-5

LEWISTON, Maine -- All three outfielders hit two-run home runs for the University of Southern Maine softball team as the visiting Huskies defeated the Bates College Bobcats, 7-5, on Marcotte Field today.

Bates (11-7) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. With two out, the Bobcats put runners on first and second for rookie 1B Carla Flaherty (Gorham, Maine), who doubled to centerfield, driving in classmate LF Krissie Whiting (Contoocook, N.H.) and junior DP Peg Ficks (Washington, Conn.).

Southern Maine (20-8-1) answered with two-run blasts from senior CF Julie Plant (Gorham, Maine) in the fourth, junior RF Becky Manson (Limington, Maine) in the sixth and senior LF June LaVallee (Sidney, Maine) in the seventh inning to secure the win. The USM outfield combined to go six-for-10 with six RBI and four runs scored.

Bates rallied in the bottom of the seventh when first-year 2B Teresa Janisch (Marina, Calif.) plated senior RF Katy Marshall (Contoocook, N.H.) and rookie C Brooke Tardiff (Wells, Maine) with a double off the fence. Junior 3B Laura Lent (Clinton, Mass.) followed with a sacrifice fly, but USM rookie pitcher Jessie Becher (So. Paris, Maine) got sophomore SS Whitney Hammill (Watertown, Conn.) to line out to second base after a 10-pitch at bat. Becher improved to 10-4 with the win, while Bates rookie Ginger Walsh fell to 4-5.

USM (20-8-1)  000  202  3  -- 7  9  3
BATES (11-7)  020  000  3  -- 5  8  1

Bates Battery: Ginger Walsh, Jen Tjepkema (7) and Brooke Tardiff.
USM Battery: Jessie Becher and Beth Fulton, Rebecca Kimball (7).
WP: Becher (10-4).  LP: Walsh (4-5)

Bates 2B: Carla Flaherty, Teresa Janisch.
Bates multiple hitters (No. hits): Flaherty 2.

USM HR (No.): Julie Plant (1), Becky Manson (5), June LaVallee (2).
USM Multiple hitters (No. hits): LaVallee 3, Plant 2.

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