JOHNSON, Vt. – Johnson State College won game two of a Sunday doubleheader to earn a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) split in softball action against visiting University of Maine-Farmington. The Badgers move to 4-6, 2-2 NAC while UMF sits at 3-4 overall, 1-3 NAC. The Beavers used a four-run seventh inning to hold off Johnson 7-3 in game one while Johnson received a two-out RBI single with the game tied at 3-3 from freshman infielder Emily Comins (Orleans, Vt./Lake Region) to snatch the win in game two.
GAME 1:
R H E
Maine-Farmington 7 8 2
Johnson 3 6 2
In game one Farmington put four runs on the board in the top of the seventh inning, all with two outs, to turn a tight 3-2 game into the eventual 7-3 victory. Kaitlyn Bartlett (Chesterville, Maine/Mount Blue) went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs to help key the victory. Bartlett blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence in the top of the seventh inning to provide insurance in the win. Hannah Lust (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) went 2-for-3 with a double while Emily Soule (Chelsea, Maine/Cony) went the distance allowing two earned runs and six hits while striking out five and walking one.
Johnson freshman Andrea Williams (Thorburn, Nova Scotia/North Nova) had a pair of singles, an RBI, and a run scored in a 2-for-3 effort while classmate Alex Bean (St. Albans, Vt./Milton) went 1-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases. Senior pitcher Meagan Russ (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) suffered the losing pitching decision going six and 2/3 innings allowing three earned runs, eight hits, and no walks while striking out three. Russ kept Johnson close throughout and was almost out of the seventh inning but a two-out infield error allowed the inning to continue and the eventual four-run frame.
Williams singled and would eventually score tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second following a throwing error by Farmington. JSC would take a 2-1 lead in the third inning after Bean singled, then stole both second and third base, and was driven in by a Williams RBI single.
UMF would tie the game in the fifth as Lust doubled and eventually scored on a Johnson throwing error. The Beavers would regain the lead in the sixth inning courtesy of an RBI groundout by Meryl Bond (Jefferson, Maine/Erskine Academy) scoring Meghan Plant (Burlington, Vt./Rice Memorial) who pinch ran for Bartlett after she singled.
The seventh inning saw Lust lead off the inning with a single. Russ would retire the next two batters an low throw to first by an infielder allowed the fourth UMF run to score and extended the inning. Amy Jones (Augusta, Maine/Cony) connected on an RBI single making the score 5-2 and then Bartlett drilled her two-run shot to balloon the lead to 7-2 before freshman Connor Kelsey (Grand Isle, Vt./Colchester) relieved Russ and ended the stanza with a strikeout.
Johnson would pick a run in the seventh but Soule would close things out to complete the victory.
GAME 2:
R H E
Maine-Farmington 3 8 1
Johnson 4 10 0
The Badgers picked up a win in walk-off fashion in game two when Comins floated a single just in front of diving UMF centerfielder Lily Barry (Hermon, Maine/Hermon) with two outs scoring Bean giving JSC the 4-3 win.
Williams went the distance for Johnson to pick up her second win of the weekend by striking out five and allowing three earned runs on eight hits and not walking a batter. The offense was paced by sophomore outfielder Katja Langmaid (Enosburg Falls, Vt./Enosburg) who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Bean who went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and a stolen base.
Bartlett started game two for Farmington allowing three earned runs over three innings and striking out three before being relieved by Emma Vaillancourt (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy). Vaillancourt pitched well in her three 2/3 innings surrendering four hits, two walks, and one earned run while striking out two. Jones went 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple and a double and a pair of RBI.
Johnson took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when freshman Shannon Grier (Plainfield, Vt./Twinfield) doubled home Comins with two outs. After UMF tied the game in the top of the third, Bean and senior Tanya Randall (Fryeburg, Maine/Fryeburg Academy) each singled put runners at the corners. JSC executed the double steal to take the 2-1 lead and then a Langmaid single scored Randall making the count 3-1.
The score would remain 3-1 heading into the seventh inning but a sacrifice bunt would score a run and that was followed by a clutch two-out double by Jones scoring Jillian Withee (Salem Township, Maine/Mt. Abram) to tie the game. Williams was able to induce a groundout to end the inning and set the scene for the bottom of the seventh heroics.
Bean led off the inning with a double to right-center but the next two Johnson batters were retired by Vaillancourt. Randall would single but Bean could not score placing runners at first and third. Comins hit a soft liner to centerfield and as Barry dove to make the catch the ball entered her glove for a moment but the momentum of the dive curled her glove under her and the ball dribbled out onto the grass as Bean crossed home plate for the win.
Johnson will next play Lyndon State College in a pair of games at home on Tuesday, April 9 at 3:00 pm while UMF travels to Lyndon tomorrow for a set starting at 3:00 pm.