FRANKLIN, Mass. — The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) softball team was defeated in both games of its Opening Day doubleheader in a non-conference date with the Lady Bulldogs of Dean College on Sunday, March 26.
Game 1: L, 16-7 (5 Innings)
SMCC jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in its first frame of the season, but the Lady Bulldogs responded with seven in the bottom half of the second—pushing at least one run across in every inning.
First-year Sarah Guimond (East Waterboro, Maine) earned the nod in game one tossing 2.0 innings, allowing eight earned runs over five hits. First-year Kristen Mackenzie (Seabrook, N.H.) came on in relief allowing a similar line— six earned runs over six hits and 2.0 innings. Guimond was taxed with the loss.
First-year Kaylah Abdul (South Berwick, Maine) collected three RBIs and two extra-base hits, one a two-run homerun in the top half of the fifth. Guimond also smashed her first career homerun in the same inning.
Angelina Taylor went the distance for Dean pitching five complete innings, striking out 10 to earn the win. The right-hander was also a perfect 3-3 with three homeruns from the plate.
Game 2: L, 11-9
Again, the Lady SeaWolves would climb out to an early 7-2 lead behind a Guimond 2-RBI triple and a grand slam courtesy of Abdul in the second. Dean would post three runs in both the third and fourth innings and tack on another three in the sixth. Needing two runs in the top half of the seventh, the Lady SeaWolves would leave two runners in scoring position before making their final out.
Head Coach Ray Magnant turned to Mackenzie to start the second game. The right-hander struck out seven but suffered the loss after allowing 11 earned over 5.1 innings. Sophomore Lindsay Marston (Rumford, Maine) took over in a 0.2 inning relief appearance.
Sophomore Elle Burbank (Bethel, Maine) recorded four hits in four at-bats and scored two runs in the seven-inning affair. Sophomore Danielle Goodwin (South Berwick, Maine), Abdul, and Guimond also notched multi-hit games.
Again, the Lady Bulldogs' Taylor pitched a complete game and struck out nine to earn her second victory of the afternoon. Dean's Alexis Brown produced the offense going for six RBIs in the game.
In a post-game interview, Coach Magnant commented, "Today I was very pleased with the hustle and attitude these ladies put forth. For only having one real outside practice before taking the field today, I thought we did a nice job correcting the mistakes we made early on and improving with every inning we played."
The Lady SeaWolves begin their 2017 spring campaign at 0-2 as Dean improves to 4-0 overall.
The doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday, March 28 vs. Northern Essex Community College at SMCC has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions. The Lady SeaWolves are tentatively scheduled to face the Lady Warriors of Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Mass. on Saturday, April 1 at 1 and 3 p.m.
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