NAC Softball Championship Day 2 Results
Bangor, Maine = Mckell Barnes (So. Durham, ME) powered the University of Maine-Farmington past Thomas College 8-4 in an elimination game in the North Atlantic Conference Championship. Barnes finished the game going 3-3 with two homeruns, a double and seven RBIs.
The Beavers improved their record to 17-12. Farmington will play Husson University at 2:00 for the NAC Championship. If Farmington defeats Husson there will be a final game between Husson and Farmington to determine the championship. Thomas finishes their season 15-17-1.
Thomas threatened in the top of the first, loading the bases with one out. However, Farmington pitcher Jess Timmereck (So. Brunswick, ME) would get out of the jam unharmed as she retired the next two batters on a groundout and an infield pop out.
In the bottom of the inning Farmington leadoff batter Kasey Mcphail (So. Benton, ME) reached base on an infield single. Mcphail moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a wild pitch with one out. Thomas would also get out of the jam unharmed as Terrier pitcher Jordan Kennedy (Fy. Detroit, ME) retired the next two batters on a lineout and a groundout.
Jen Higgins (Sr. Old Town, ME) got things going for the Terriers in the second when she drew a two out walk. Brittany Morin (Sr. Winslow, ME) stepped up next and doubled home Higgins. Mallorie Blakney (So. Fairfield, ME) then singled to left-center, scoring Morin from second. Patrice Cianchette (Fy. Corinna, ME) kept the rally going for the Terriers in the second as she hit a single to left field, bringing home Blakney and giving Thomas a 3-0 lead after an inning and a half.
In the bottom of the second Timmereck led off for the Beavers with a walk. After a great diving catch by Thomas third baseman Alexandra Kriegel (So. Winslow, ME), Casandra Dyer (Jr. Freeport, ME) doubled down the left field line to put two Beavers in scoring position with no outs. Kennedy once again got out of the inning unharmed as she got Farmington to pop up to third and picked up a strikeout.
In the bottom of the third the Beavers would get back two runs on a two run homerun to left field by Barnes. Thomas responded in the top of the fourth with an unearned run as Kristy Clements (Sr. Monroe, ME) hit an RBI double to left-center field, extending the Terriers' lead to 4-2.
Mcphail loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with a bunt single on a 3-0 count. Erin Porter (Sr. Bangor, ME) would bring the Beaver's within one run with a two out RBI infield single. Barnes stepped up and ripped a base clearing double to left-center as the Beavers took their first lead of the game, 6-4.
Barnes hit her second two-run homerun of the game to left field in the top of the seventh, extending Farmington's lead to four runs. Liz Bergeron picked up the win pitching the last three innings without giving up a run and only giving up one hit and one walk. Clements for Thomas finished the game going 3-3 from the plate with one double and one RBI.
