South Portland, Maine – The Fisher College softball dropped two one-run games to the University of Maine Presque Isle at a neutral location of Southern Maine Community College. The first of the two games went into eight innings with the final score of 5-4 while the second game went seven innings, but resulted with a 5-4 loss as well.
The Falcons scored first in the bottom of the first inning with freshman Maria Rivera leading off with a single through the left side. Sophomore Kristina Brown then reached on a fielder's choice and eventually stole second, putting a runner in scoring position. Sophomore Mikayla Zimmerman then doubled down the left field line scoring Brown to take a 1-0 lead. Senior Chrissy Briggs singled to centerfield scoring Zimmerman to take a 2-0 lead.
Both teams went scoreless in the second inning, but UMPI battled back in the third to get one run off two hits. Heading to the bottom half of the third inning, the score was 2-1 Fisher. In the top of the 5th inning, UMPI battled to get three runs to take a 4-2 lead over the Falcons.
The Falcons exploded in the 7th inning scoring two runs forcing extra innings. Junior Camila Da Silva started the inning off with a single moving over on a Morgan Selmi fielder's choice. Rivera singled to left field putting runners on first and third. Brown then walked, loading the bases. Zimmerman walked forcing a run to cross the plate with two outs. Briggs then singled to left center scoring Rivera to tie the game, but the Falcons were unable to score any more before the third out.
In the 8th inning, a runner was placed on second with UMPI bunting the runner over to third with one out. The runner then scored on a ground out to the pitcher putting UMPI up 5-4 with two outs. The next batter singled to shortstop, but was out on the next play.
Senior Cassy Pillard was placed on second for the Falcons and moved over by Jade Bracero who grounded out to the 1st baseman. Freshman Luz Evangelista reached on a fielder's choice with Pillard getting out by the third baseman heading home. The Falcon threat was over and the game ended in eight innings with the Owls taking the victory.
The second game started again with the Falcons scoring first in the first inning. Selmi doubled to left center and scored on an error by the 1st baseman trying to get Rivera out at first. Rivera stole second and scored on another error by the first baseman after getting Zimmerman out at first.
UMPI tied the game in the top of the third inning after runners got to second and third on a hit and a fielder's choice. A pass ball scored one of the runners, moving the other runner to third base. The next batter then singled up the middle, scoring the runner from third to tie the game at two. Zimmerman got the third out herself earning a strikeout.
The Owls then took a 5-2 lead over the Falcons in the top of the 5th inning on two hits and two Falcon errors. The Falcons then battled to bring the score to 5-4 in the bottom half of the 6th inning. Rivera started the inning off singling to left centerfield with one out. Brown then singled to centerfield and advanced Rivera to second. Zimmerman then singled to left center moving Brown to third base and scoring Rivera. Briggs sent a sacrifice fly to centerfield scoring Brown, but the Falcons were unable to push any more runs across.
Fisher's defense got the Owls to go down only letting one runner on base and retiring the next two batters. The Falcons then got a runner on with one out and was moved over to second base on a fielder's choice putting a runner in scoring position with two outs. Owls' pitcher was able to retired the last batter ending the game in a 5-4 Owl victory.
The Falcons will return to action tomorrow, April 11 when they travel to Chestnut Hill to take on the Gators of Pine Manor College. First pitch of the first game will take place at 3:00 p.m.