USM HANDS SOFTBALL 7-0 LOSS

(Taken from a Southern Maine press release)
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior shortstop Julie Plant (Gorham, Maine) hit a three-run homer to cap off a five-run second inning, and sophomore right-handed pitcher Erica Gagnon (Oakland, Maine) scattered seven singles for her sixth shutout of the season, as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the visiting Bates College Bobcats 7-0 in a single college softball game Friday afternoon at Towers Field.

Southern Maine grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by senior Kelly McCaffrey (Lynn, Mass.) and an RBI single by sophomore Melissa Buccieri (Lebanon, Maine). The Huskies put the game away in the second inning. Sophomore Alyssa Anderson (New Portland, Maine) led off with a single, and took second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Stacy Dube (Milton Mills, N.H.). Anderson stole third and came home on an error for the Huskies third run.

Sophomore Becky Manson (Limington, Maine) singled home freshman Beth Fulton (Exeter, N.H.), who walked and move third on a single by junior June LaVallee (Sidney, Maine), to make it 4-0. Plant followed with her second home run of the season over the 215-foot sign in left-center field to make it 7-0 and chase Bates sophomore starting pitcher Jen Crawford (Southborough, Mass.) from the game. Senior Becki Gasior (Park Ridge, N.J.) did a good job in relief hurling 4.2 innings of scoreless, five-hit softball.

Plant and Anderson each had a pair of hits for the Huskies. First-year infielder Kim Bosse (Auburn, Maine) had a pair of singles for the Bobcats.

                         1  2  3    4  5  6    7      R   H   E
Bates (9-10)             0  0  0    0  0  0    0      0   7   1
Southern Maine (26-15)   2  5  0    0  0  0    x      7  11   0

Batteries:  
BAT - Jen Crawford, Becki Gasior (2) and Peggy Ficks.
USM - Erica Gagnon and Beth Fulton, Niki Giordano (6).
Winning Pitcher:  Gagnon (14-7)      Losing Pitcher:  Crawford (4-5)

HR: USM  Julie Plant (2)
Multiple Hitters:  BAT, Bosse. USM, Plant, Anderson.