Auburn, ME – The Central Maine Community College softball team got its 2024 fall ball schedule underway, hosting the University of Maine at Augusta's brand new softball team for a doubleheader in Auburn.

The Mustangs took game one by a 13-0 scoreline in five innings, but fell behind to the Moose in game two, ultimately falling one run short in a comeback rally 11-12.

Game One, 13-0 W

In game one, CMCC started a first-year battery with Madison Boynton from Warren, ME getting the start at pitcher and Madison Anderson out of Turner, ME starting at catcher. Boynton delivered five strong innings, shutting out the Moose in their inaugural game while striking out ten batters.

Senior Olivia Gallan went 3-for-4 with five RBIs on three hits, including two doubles and younger sister Miah Gallan drove in two runs with a triple. Five players finished the game with two or more hits for the Mustangs.

After a scoreless first inning Central Maine got the offense into gear in the bottom of the second. Boynton scored on a bases loaded walk to McKenna Ridlon. Two batters later, Olivia singled to center to drive in both Anderson and Ridlon. Miah's line drive triple to left field brought home her older sister as well as Keira Greene. And Sam Withee delivered a triple of her own to make it 6-0 CMCC.

The Mustangs added three more in the third and four runs in the fourth to take a commanding lead. Anderson, Emily Libby, and Olivia Gallan all doubled in the third inning recording one RBI each.

Audrey Nile recorded the first hit in UMaine-Augusta softball history in the top of the fourth with a ground ball into left field. She stole second base to get into scoring position, but two straight strikeouts from Boynton ended the threat.

In the bottom half of the inning, Alivia Field drove in Boynton with an infield single. Three straight walks added another run before Olivia's double over center fielder Arabel Linkletter plated Anderson and Ridlon for the 13-0 lead.

Game Two, 11-12 L

UMaine-Augusta named the same starting line-up for game two, including a second straight start for pitcher Addison McCormick after she had faced 28 batters in game one. This time though the Moose got a very different result, scoring four runs in the first inning and holding a lead all the way to the end before surviving a late seventh inning rally by the Mustangs.

CMCC was bit by the error bug early on. In the top of the first, Sage Fortin singled on a line drive to center field off starting pitcher Brooke Gero. The sophomore from Augusta then came home on a passed ball to score the first run for the new program.

Nile then brought home Aubrey Peer with a single to second base before scoring herself on a couple more errors. First, Anderson tried to throw out the freshman from Bowdoinham while she was stealing third only for the ball to skip into left field. Boynton, playing game two in left, then overthrew her mark on the toss home allowing McCormick to scamper in for a 4-0 lead.

UMA added another run in the top of the second on Fortin's RBI single that brought in Linkletter. In the bottom of the third, Olivia Gallan doubled into center field, then scored on sister Miah's infield single to third base. That cut the lead down to 5-1, but the Mustangs would be within a run after the next inning.

Keira Greene's two RBI triple to right field knocked in McKenna Ridlon and Oliva. The sophomore from Baldwin, ME then scored on Miah's ground out to second to make it a 5-4 ballgame.

The Moose continued to keep the Mustangs at arms length with both teams scoring twice in the fifth inning. The sixth was when the young UMaine-Augusta program showed its stuff scoring five runs to double up CMCC with a 12-6 lead.

Linkletter showcased her speed with an RBI triple to left field. Fortin hit a sac-fly to drive her in. McCormick and Emily Lunn both delivered RBI hits with a single and double respectively. McCormick scored on a passed ball to leave Central Maine with a lot of work to do.

In their last ups of the doubleheader, the Mustangs went to work on a comeback attempt. Two walks set the stage for Greene to bring home Gero on a ground out to short. And down to their last out, Sam Withee and Boynton both came through with hits. Withee's two-RBI single in center field cut the lead down to 12-9. Boynton then smacked a triple to the right field wall before scoring herself on a passed ball.

Feeling the pressure in the circle, McCormick finished off the complete game victory by inducing a ground ball back to her from Field. The sophomore from Union, ME threw over to first base for the final out, earning UMA its first softball win in program history.

The two sides are scheduled to meet for one more doubleheader, in April during the spring season up in Augusta.

Next up for the Mustangs is another home series, this time getting two games against the SMCC Seawolves on Tuesday, September 17th. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm.