JOHNSON, Vt. – Johnson State College split a home North Atlantic Conference (NAC) softball doubleheader on Saturday with visiting Thomas College to move to 3-5, 1-1 NAC at Minaert Field.  The Badgers fell in the opener to the Terriers 6-2 but responded with a 6-1 win in the nightcap.  Thomas now stands at 2-14 overall, 1-3 NAC.

                               R             H            E

Thomas                   6            10          0

Johnson                  2             7            1

In the opener Thomas' Lauren Hachey (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee) went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and three stolen bases to help fuel the Terriers 6-2 victory over Johnson.  Faith Robinson (Auburn, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) outdueled Johnson's Meagan Russ (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) to earn the pitching victory allowing two earned runs while striking out seven in the complete-game.

Freshman outfielder Alex Bean (St. Albans, Vt./Milton) went 3-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Badger offense while also adding a stolen base.  Junior Emily Himberg (Williston, Vt./Champlain Valley Union) and freshman Autumn Hallock (Jericho, Vt./Mount Mansfield) each had a single and a run scored for JSC.

Russ hurled all seven innings for Johnson allowing six earned runs on 10 hits while striking out five and walking two.

Thomas broke open a scoreless game in the top of the third inning when Hachey led off the inning with a double which sparked the Terriers to a three-run frame.  Johnson would rally with two of their own in the bottom half of the inning courtesy of Bean's RBI single with the bases loaded and an RBI groundout for freshman Andrea Williams (Thorburn, Nova Scota/North Nova).  Thomas would add a run in the fourth and then two in the six to help seal the victory as Robinson stymied the Badgers over the final four innings.

GAME 2:

                              R             H             E

Thomas                1              3              1

Johnson               6              8              0

Rookie Andrea Williams struck out 12 batters and allowed just three hits over seven innings to earn the pitching victory for Johnson in game two of the doubleheader 6-1.  Williams surrendered only one earned run and walked two in the performance.  Senior centerfield Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt./Peoples) went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored for JSC while sophomore catcher Amanda McLean (Woodhaven, N.Y./HS for Environmental Science) went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run.

Thomas' Taylor Bergeron (Lyman/Massabesic) was tagged with the losing pitching decision as she went 2 2/3 innings allowing six earned runs, seven hits, and four walks while striking out one.  The Terrier offense saw Samantha Moore (Etna, Maine/Nokomis Regional) single and score a run.

The Badgers put together a big second inning to help key the victory scoring five of their six runs in the frame.  McCullock followed up a McLean RBI double with a  two-run double of her own while a Bean RBI single and an RBI double by senior Tanya Randall (Fryeburg, Maine/Fryeburg) to account the scoring.

The only bump in the road for Williams came in the top of fifth when Moore led off the inning with a single, McKayla Gastia (Milford, Maine/Old Town) walked, Lindsay Hoopingarner (Richmond, Maine/Richmond) sacrificed bunted to move the runners and then Kristi Hilton (Monmouth, Maine/Monmouth Academy) singled home Moore.  Williams would regain form by striking out the final two batters of the inning swinging to end the threat.

Johnson moves on to face the University of Maine-Farmington on Sunday at 1:30 pm in their next doubleheader while Thomas will travel to New England College for a 2:30 pm start.