Softball splits with NHTI

Softball splits with NHTI

Auburn, ME - The Central Maine Community College (CMCC) Softball team opened their 2019 fall softball season as they hosted the reigning Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) Champion NHTI Lynx in double-header action on Saturday. These were the first games played on the new turf field by any CM team. The Mustangs split with NHTI dropping game one 11-3 and winning game two 8-2.

Game 1: NHTI L, 13-3 (6 innings)

Coach Bruce Robertson started game one with second-year Megan Theriault (Lewiston, ME) in the circle for her first start of the year. Theriault went 4 innings giving up 11 hits, 6 earned-runs, one walk and 3 strike outs. In the 5th Robertson then turned to first-year Haley Fernald (Bridgton, ME) who pitched two-innings allowing 3 hits, 5 earned-runs, 5 walks and 1 strikeout.

The Mustangs offence had 8 hits in game 1. They were paced by first-year's Abby Ferland (triple, single) and Shelby Lafrinea (2 singles) each recording 2 hits for the Mustangs. Kiera-Caley Young added a triple while Fernald, Abby Russell and Molly Flaherty all added singles.

Game 2: NHTI W, 8-2

Game two Coach Robertson turned the ball over to First-Year Molly Flaherty (Sabattus, ME) who kept the Lynx off balance with an array of pitches to pitch a complete game win (first of her colligate career) allowing only 6 hits, two earned runs, one strike out and walking zero.

This game the Mustang bats came alive recoding 7 hits. Including 2 home runs by one Kiera-Caley Young and Abby Russell who also added a single. Maddy Boynton joined in with a triple while Sydney Crocker, Abigail Hanson, and Molly Flaherty each had singles.

Coach Robertson commented, "Being our first game of the season and playing the reigning YSCC Champions I knew this is would be our measuring stick. We needed to play hard, smart and limit the errors to compete with NHTI and we did that in game two. I felt we played a bit stiff and nervous in game one but in game two we played like the team I knew we could be. Being a completely new team excluding Team Captain Megan Theriault who is in her second year the team, we started summer workouts with a goal in mind and they have been working hard ever since then until game day arrived. We had steady improvement throughout the day and that is what we are looking for from our players. It is ok to make mistakes as long as we learn from them and improve! We were all excited to get onto our new field and with the home crowd of parents, fans, and all the CM teams it was truly amazing as they really brought the noise and support for us!"

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