CASTINE – The Husson College softball team combined clutch hitting up and down the lineup with efficient pitching efforts from two freshmen Thursday to sweep a doubleheader from Maine Maritime Academy and remain unbeaten in conference play.

The Eagles won the first game 8-1 and the second 8-5 at Ritchie Field, but had to come from behind in both to improve to 11-7 overall and 8-0 in the North Atlantic Conference.

“We put it all together. I think we just play really well together as a team and we were playing very well today,” said designated hitter Megan Richard, one of three freshman starters for the Eagles.

Richard exemplified Husson’s hitting ability and production throughout the lineup as she went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, three RBIs, two doubles and a home run while batting eighth.

“I don’t think there’s really a weak spot in our lineup,” said Jenika Kelley.

Kelley should know. Husson’s sophomore left fielder bats seventh and was no slouch herself as she went 2-for-7 with three RBIs and three runs.

Kelley was the heroine of the second game after belting a game-winning, three-run homer off the left-field foul pole to cap a five-run rally in the seventh inning.

“When I rounded first base, I saw it deflect off the foul pole,” Kelley said. “It’s my third home run, but I just hit my first and second one ever in our last series. I guess I’m growing into it.”

Kelley’s definitely not suffering any growing pains, batting .342 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Then again, hardly anyone in Husson’s lineup is suffering at all lately.

“We’re hitting about .320 as a team, which is phenomenal,” said Husson coach Amanda Davey. “We have bunters, slappers, home run hitters – and bunters who hit home runs too, apparently.

“We also have decent speed and are stealing more bases than we have in the past.”

The Eagles stole three bases in four attempts Thursday to go to 15-for-23 this season, but the biggest steal of the day was the second game, during which they trailed 3-0 and 5-2 before rallying to win.

The Mariners (6-4, 4-4 in NAC) appeared poised to salvage a split with a 5-3 lead in the last inning, but then the first two Husson batters in the seventh reached on a walk and hit batter. Mariners two-game starter – and freshman – Amanda Barker bore down to strike out the next hitter and retire cleanup batter Carolyn McAvoy on a flyout, but Shawna Bell walked to load the bases before Jenny Rollins of Corinth tied the game with a two-run single to left. That set the stage for Kelley’s line drive off the pole.

Husson’s offensive output made winners of freshman starters Tammie Arsenault (3-1) and Caitlin LeBorgne (3-1).

“They’re both freshmen, so it’s a huge role they’re taking on, but they’re keeping it together and doing a great job,” said Davey.

Arsenault pitched six innings of three-hit shutout ball in the first game while walking no batters and striking out four.

LeBorgne went the distance in the second, giving up four hits and three walks. She also had three strikeouts.

“Tammy’s drop ball was on today and they had a tough time touching her,” Davey said. “I think Caitlin was a little frustrated because where she likes to pitch, they weren’t calling it, but she did a good job of keeping the ball in the infield.”

Barker pitched complete games despite getting touched up for 15 hits.

“I think if anything, Amanda tries too hard sometimes and feels like she has to get outs by herself,” said MMA coach Katrina Dagan. “You have to let your fielders help you, especially against a team like Husson, which I feel has the best offense in our conference.”

Dagan remained upbeat despite the disappointing ending to the second game.

“We have one senior, three sophomores and all the rest are freshmen, so we’re still learning to win games, especially close ones like this, but I like where we are,” she explained. “We’re working and improving and taking baby steps.”

aneff@bangordailynews.net

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EAGLES 8, MARINERS 1

(First Game)

Husson Maine Maritime

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Cameron, rf 5 1 1 1 Barker, p 3 1 0

Adams, cf 3 2 0 0 Hunt, ss 2 0 0

Berry, 2b 5 0 1 0 Poland, 3b 3 0 0

McAvoy, ss 4 0 1 2 Stanley, 2b 3 0 0

Bradstreet, pr 0 0 0 0 Arris, c 3 0

Bell, c 2 0 0 0 Richard, lf 3 0 0

Rollins, 3b 4 1 1 0 Ross, dp 3 0 0

Kelley, lf 3 1 0 0 Rheaume, rf 0 0 0

Richard, dp 2 3 2 2 Seamans, 1b 3 0 0

Pietras, 1b 4 0 1 0 Russell, cf 2 0 0

Totals 32 8 7 5 Totals 25 1 4 0

Husson 000 025 1 – 8

Maine Maritime 100 000 0 – 1

E-Rollins 2; Richard 2, Poland, Rheaume; LOB-Husson 9; MMA 4; 2B-Richard; HR-Richard (1); S-Hunt; SB-Pietras, Adams, Bell

Husson IP H R ER BB SO

Arsenault (W, 3-1) 6 3 1 0 0 4

Sargent 1 1 0 0 0 0

MMA IP H R ER BB SO

Barker (L, 5-2) 7 7 8 6 7 6

WP-Barker; PB-Bell; Arris; T-1:36; ATT-87

EAGLES 8, MARINERS 5

(Second Game)

Husson (11-7) Maine Maritime (6-4)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Cameron, rf 2 1 1 0 Barker, p 4 0 0

Adams, cf 1 1 0 0 Russell, cf 3 2 0

Berry, 2b 4 0 0 0 Poland, 3b 2 2 0

McAvoy, ss 4 0 0 0 Stanley, 2b 2 0 1

Bell, c 1 3 1 0 Arris, c 3 1 1

Rollins, 3b 3 1 2 2 Hunt, ss 3 0 0

Kelley, lf 4 2 2 3 Richard, lf 2 0 0

Richard, dp 3 0 2 1 Seamans, 1b 2 0 0

Pietras, 1b 3 0 0 0 Rheaume, rf 2 0 0

Totals 25 8 8 6 Totals 23 5 4 2

Husson 020 001 5 – 8

Maine Maritime 301 010 0 – 5

E-McAvoy 2, Berry, Rollins; Rheaume; LOB-Husson 7; MMA 3; 2B-Cameron, Richard; HR-Kelley (3); DP-Rollins-Pietras; Richard-Stanley-Seamans; S-Rollins, Pietras; Richard, Seamans; SF-Stanley; SB-Russell

Husson IP H R ER BB SO

LeBorgne (W, 3-1) 7 4 5 2 3 3

Maine Maritime IP H R ER BB SO

Barker (L, 5-3) 7 8 8 7 7 2

HBP-Adams 2 (by Barker); WP-Barker 2; BK-LeBorgne; PB-Bell; Arris 2; T-1:45; ATT-87