Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 GORHAM, Maine—Sophomore
Olivia Albert tossed 3.2 innings of no-hit ball but the University of Southern Maine exploded for nine runs in the final two innings on their way to a 10-1 win over Keene State College in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Towers Field on Saturday. USM took the opener 8-0.
Records:
- Southern Maine: 18-1-1, 8-0 LEC
- Keene State: 1-9, 1-5 LEC
How it Happened - Game One
Sara Cote,
Kylie Frank,
Alexis Blanchette, and
Kate Fisher each had a hit for the Owls, who never had a runner beyond second base in the game.
For USM, Ashley Tinsman was 1-for-3 with three RBI in the game. Rona Scott knocked in a pair of runs in support of Kristin Pelletier, who went the distance and struck out four to improve to 6-0.
Scott gave the Huskies all the runs would need with a 2-RBI double in the bottom of the second. She then came around in the same frame to make it 3-0 by scoring on a KSC error. USM put away the game with five more runs in the fourth inning, with the big hit being a 3-RBO double by Tinsman. The Owls had runners in scoring position in the second and third innings, but could not generate any offense beyond that.
Blanchette (0-3) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in four innings and notching one strikeout.
How it Happened - Game Two
Albert's strong start boosted the Owls; the sophomore hurler walked Tinsman in the bottom of the first, but that would be the only base runner she allowed until the fourth inning, setting the Huskies down in order in both the second and third stanzas.
The Owls took the lead in the bottom of the second when
Gianna Zanchelli, making just her second start of the season, singled up the middle and moved to third on
Grace Hallett's double to right-center.
Faith Barbieri stroked a single to left field to plate Zanchelli for the 1-0 lead. Albert's pitching kept the Huskies off the scoreboard until the fourth, when Tinsman singled and eventually scored on a single by Lauren Leidemann-Smith.
After setting the Owls down in the top of the fifth, USM broke through against Albert and reliever
Megan Blanchette, scoring six times (five of the runs unearned) to break the game open. The Huskies added three more in the sixth inning to end the game.
Cote and Zanchelli both had a pair of hits for the Owls. Albert (1-4) struck out three and allowed just two earned runs in four innings.
Around The Horn:
- Albert was in search of the first no-hitter for KSC since Mariah Crisp kept Baruch College out of the hit column in a 25-0, five inning win on March 5, 2016.
- This was the first time the Huskies had swept a doubleheader from the Owls since 2015. Keene state got a measure of revenge that year by defeating the Huskies in the LEC tournament.
- Despite the losses, Keene State still leads the all-time series 37-25.
Up Next
- The two teams will meet in Keene on Sunday, April 18, for a doubleheader that begins at 1 pm. Sunday's games will count towards the LEC standings.
