The Colby Echo

Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: file

In its last New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) matchup of the season, the Colby softball team faced Bowdoin College in a three game series with one game in Brunswick on Friday and a doubleheader at home on Saturday. It was a frustrating weekend for the Mules, who earned an impressive win in the first game but then conceded both games of the double header.

The team came into Friday's game with great momentum after an excellent series against Trinity College last weekend and another great offensive performance against Husson College last week. The game started off with the Polar Bears looking like the more powerful team, as they quickly took a 4-1 lead over the Mules. In the third inning, Colby's only run scored was by Allyson Cheever '11 after Alex Essman '11 drew a bases loaded walk. Yet Bowdoin wasn't able to contain the Colby offense for much longer. Indeed, in the fourth inning Meryl Poulin '11 and Annie Wilson '11 both drew walks and scored, Poulin on a Bowdoin error and Wilson on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of teammate Alyssa Lepore '11.

Bowdoin responded quickly to the renewed Colby threat by sneaking one last run across the plate in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 5-3 in favor of the Polar Bears. However, after the fourth, Colby pitcher, captain Alyssa Crowell '09, who entered the game in the third inning, shut down Bowdoin and let the offense take care of the rest.

The Mules finished up their scoring with three more runs in the fifth inning. Again, walks proved to be the foundation of the Colby rally, as Essman earned a free pass to start off the inning and was then replaced by pinch runner Heather Quadir '11, who stole second and came around to score on an RBI single from Lizzi Fort '11. The final nail in the Polar Bears' coffin came when Christine Gillespie '10 connected for a two run single, putting the Mules on top for good.

In game two, it looked like the Mules would keep up their winning ways, but the game ended with a heartbreaking 4-3 loss for the team. Essman and Wilson combined to score all three Colby runs, with Essman crossing the plate twice and each player contributing a hit. The Colby defense did its best to keep the Polar Bears contained, with Crowell holding them to just one run through the first six innings, but down to its final out, Bowdoin miraculously turned the tide and loaded the bases on three consecutive singles. An error in the Colby outfield let three runs score and Bowdoin managed to come away with an unbelievable win.

After losing the second game in such a fashion, the momentum clearly shifted to Bowdoin for the second game of the double header. The Polar Bears limited the Mules to just three hits-including an RBI single from Essman, who scored the only Colby run of the game-while scoring five runs of their own for a convincing win.

Overall, the weekend was one of mixed results. Although Colby performed very well on Friday, showing they deserved their very impressive 17-10 record, there is no doubt that the team was disappointed with Saturday's results. With the season coming to a close, the Mules have one more game to play against Bates College, which was postponed earlier in the season, as well as a series against University of Maine at Presque Isle later this week. The team looks to finish on a high note and build a strong foundation for next year.

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