PRESQUE ISLE, ME – The University of Maine at Presque Isle Softball team (21-11) wrapped up their regular season schedule by hosting the Fisher Falcons (16-18) in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. The Falcons would come from behind in both games and end up with 8-7 and 12-11 victories.
Game 1 – FC 8, UMPI 7 (8 Inn.)
A big first inning would put the Owls in control early. Early command issues from Fisher would allow two runs to score via bases loaded walks. An infield single from the bat of Delanie Strout (FR, Greene, ME) would drive in the third run, and Brianna Losee (JR, Pittsfield, ME) would lift a sacrifice fly into center to put UMPI up by four runs.
Fisher would answer back with two in the second. A leadoff double by Mikayla Zimmerman (JR, Corona, CA) would put pressure on the Owls, and two errors would allow the Falcons to cut the lead in half. Zimmerman would find herself in the middle of things in the third as well. She would step to the plate with one out and two on and drive a double to left field to plate a run. A wild pitch later in the inning would allow the Falcons to tie the game.
The Owls would retake the lead in the bottom of the third, with a clutch two-out RBI double from Losee. UMPI would strand two runners in the inning however, and Fisher would take advantage in the top of the fourth. Morgan Selmi (SR, Rohnert Park, CA) would hit a two-run homerun to center, and the Falcons would once again have the lead.
The Owls would get another two-out RBI from Losee in the fifth. This time she would single to left to tie the game and take advantage of Sara Packard's (JR, St. Albans, ME) double earlier in the inning. In the sixth UMPI would have runners on second and third with no one out. The Falcons would cut a run down at the plate for the first out, and be looking to get out unscathed after an infield pop out. The Owls would take the lead on a passed ball and send the game into the seventh with a one-run lead.
In the top of the seventh Fisher would take advantage of an error by UMPI. Becky Collison (JR, Saginaw, MI) would drive the ball to deep right field in what would be scored as a sacrifice fly, tying the game once again. The Owls would strand a runner in the bottom half, setting up extra innings.
Fisher would take advantage of the extra innings rule that puts the last out on second to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt would move that runner to third, Darien Lavino (SO, Tewksbury, MA) would single to left to plate the run. The Owls would sacrifice their runner to third in the bottom half, but a pop fly and a strike out would strand her there, ending the game.
Ariel Williams (FR, Frisco, TX) would end up three for five with a run scored. Losee would collect three RBI in her two for two game, while Packard would go two for three with an RBI, walk, and two runs scored.
Game 2 - FC 12. UMPI 11
The Owls would hold a 7-3 lead late in the game before Fisher's big sixth inning. Five hits, one error, and a crucial passed ball with two outs would lead to five Falcon runs. After working around a leadoff walk in the bottom half, Fisher would add to their lead in the top of the seventh. Five more hits would lead to four more runs for the visitors, giving them a five-run lead.
The Owls would lead off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and a base hit. After a ground ball out, the Falcons looked to be in control when they struck out the next batter. The catcher was not able to block the pitch, allowing the runner to reach and a run to cross the plate. Another wild pitch would bring in a second run for the Owls, and another walk would put the tying run at the plate. Emma Gogan (FR, Truro, NS) singled to drive in a run after the Falcon pitching change, and the Owls would find themselves down by just one run after Alexis Levesque (SO, Madawaska, ME) would knock a single to center. That was all UMPI would get though, as a ground ball and a fly out would end the game.
Jordi Legassie (SO, Presque Isle, ME) would score three runs by going three for four at the plate, including two doubles. Losee would continue her strong afternoon with a three for four effort, driving in two runs. Levesque and Packard would each collect two hits, with Levesque being responsible for driving in two runs.
The Falcons will head back to Boston to jump on a plane in a few short hours heading to Lawrenceville, Georgia for the Association of Independent Institution's conference tournament. Fisher finished as the number four seed, having to take on the number one seed Georgia Gwinnett in the opening round on Thursday morning.