The five-inning mercy rule win came one hour and 10 minutes after the Badgers rallied in the opener to claim an exciting 4-3 win. UMF (4-17 overall, 1-5 conference) will host Lyndon State College on Sunday, while Johnson State (6-14, 4-4) plays at Thomas College in Waterville.

UMF scored in every inning in the second game, polishing off the decision with six runs in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Alison Hamilton and freshmen Ashley Gleason and Kylie Cunningham racked up three hit.

“We only have about a week left in the regular season,” UMF coach Paul Rodrigue said. “But what a difference in this team, from when we opened up in Florida to now. It’s like the difference between night and day.”

Junior Tasha DeRoche (Dirigo) got the Beavers headed in the right direction in the first with a two-RBI single to left center. Sophomore Kiana Thompson (Mt. Blue) doubled the lead, smacking a two-RBI single to center, giving UMF a 4-0 lead after one inning.

“We are really starting to work together as a unit,” Rodrigue said. “We needed to put together a good game and got off to a great start.”

Senior Emily Vitone (2-7) earned the win in the circle for UMF, throwing a complete game, allowing six hits in five innings while striking out two and walking two.

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UMF cemented the win in the fourth, loading the bases on a walk and a pair of bunts. Hamilton, senior Meryl Bond, Gleason and Cunningham contributed RBIs, while freshman Rebecca Hamilton dealt the big blow, doubling to left to score two runs for a 14-3 advantage.

In the opener, the Badgers rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the seventh inning to secure the win, spoiling a strong pitching effort by freshmen Kailyn Hill (Lisbon), who went the distance, striking out seven and allowing nine hits.

Freshman Kaitlynn Woodward tied the game, 3-3, driving a line shot off the fence in deep right center. Freshman Victoria Kinney sent Woodward home with the eventual game-winning run, driving a single to right.

“It was a good comeback win for sure,” Johnson coach Robert Gervais said. “We’ve been working on being aggressive and had a lot of kids contribute in this game.”

Woodward improved to 6-5 for the Badgers, tossing all seven innings in the win. She collected nine strike outs while allowing six hits.


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