Colby softball takes two from Maine Maritime

CASTINE, Maine --- Brianne Wheeler went a combined 4-for-7 with a double, home run, and four RBI to lead the Colby College softball team to 4-3 and 4-2 victories over Maine Maritime Academy in a non-conference doubleheader Sunday.
 
The Mules (4-10 overall) had a run in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie to win the first game and had two runs in the top of the seventh to pull out the sweep over the Mariners (7-5).
 
With a pair of runners aboard and one out in the top of the sixth, Carolyn Bennett (Scarborough, Maine) reached on an error at shortstop that allowed Erin Caputo to break a 3-3 tie that had stood since the first inning of the opener.
 
Colby punched up three runs in the top of the first when sophomore Brianne Wheeler (Brussels, Ont.) belted a three-run home run. Lindasy Peterson (Fairfield, Conn.) had reached on a one-out double into right before Katie Graichen (Arundel, Maine) got on board with a walk. Wheeler made Abby Yeo (Bucksport, Maine) pay on an 0-1 count, sending a shot over the left field fence for the 3-0 margin.
 
Yeo rallied the Mariners in the bottom of the frame with a one-out double in the left field gap. Leah Jackson (Dedham, Maine) brought her home, before Sabrina Keach (Chesterville, Maine) brought Jackson back to the plate. Autumn Jones (Windham, Maine) punched up a two-out single through the left side to plate Keach.

Yeo and Colby pitcher, Megan Michie (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) took over from there. Michie struck out seven and allowed only two hits the rest of the way to move to 2-2 on the season. Yeo only allowed three hits the rest of the way, but was saddled with the loss on the unearned run in the sixth, falling to 3-2 on the year. Yeo and Colby’s Peterson (2 hits, 1 run), were the only two players recording multiple hits in the opener.

The Mules jumped on MMA in the first again in the nightcap, putting up a pair of runs on three hits. Wheeler grounded out to second to turn Meaghan Lewia’s (Wells, Maine) leadoff single into the first run, while a Peterson double into right center turned Graichen’s single into the second run.

Caputo (1-2) threw a gem in the nightcap, scattering five hits and striking out six. She allowed two runs in the bottom of the seventh when Maine Maritime pitcher Erica Taylor cut the Mules 4-0 lead in half with her third homer (a two-run shot) of the year.

In the top of the seventh inning, Wheeler reached on a leadoff double down the left field line that went over the head of MMA’s shortstop, who had waved off Jones in left. With the bases loaded, Caputo aided her own cause by driving in Peterson. Bennett singled into center to put the fourth run on the board.

Wheeler and Graichen both had three hits in the second game, while Lewia finished with two hits and one run. Peterson had three hits in the two games.

Colby 4, Maine Maritime 3 (1st game)
Colby............... 300 001 0 - 4 5 2
Maine Maritime...... 300 000 0 - 3 6 4
Michie (W) and Pulford; Yeo (L) and Jackson. 2B: Peterson (C), Flannery (M), Yeo (M). HR: Wheeler (C).

Colby 4, Maine Maritime 2 (2nd game)
Colby............... 200 000 2 - 4 13 0
Maine Maritime...... 000 000 2 - 2 5 1
Caputo (W) and Pulford; Taylor (L) and Jackson. 2B: Wheeler (C), Peterson (C). HR: Taylor (M).