Softball Splits With NJCAA Knights

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine— The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) softball team split with the Knights from the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) in a non-conference doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 20.

Game 1: W, 14-7
Coach Ray Magnant went with sophomore Kristen Mackenzie (Seabrook, N.H.) to start the first game of the double dip. The righty gave the SeaWolves 5.1 innings of work before sophomore Sarah Guimond (East Waterboro, Maine) came in to shut the door.

The Knights drew first blood with one run in the first, but SMCC did one better to score two in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI single by first-year Madison Eastman (South Berwick, Maine) and a run-scoring double delivered by sophomore Kahli Philibotte (Hooksett, N.H.).

The SeaWolves held a 5-4 lead before stringing together their biggest inning of the game using three hits to score five runs in the fifth. CCRI cut their deficit 10-7 getting production with two outs in the sixth inning but again the SeaWolves answered with four in their at-bats to gain a comfortable advantage 14-7.

Eastman had herself a game collecting three hits, two runs, and four RBIs. Mackenzie also recorded a three-hit game and contributed to her cause by driving in three.

Guimond retired the side in order in the seventh inning to secure Mackenzie's eighth win of the season (2-YSCC). The Knight's Kailee Morgan suffered the loss allowing 10 runs on 12 hits and four walks.

Game 2: L, 9-1 (6 innings)
Guimond started in the circle for the SeaWolves in the second game. The hard-throwing right-hander faced 23 batters in 4.2 innings, allowing four earned runs over seven hits. Mackenzie made her eighteenth appearance of the year throwing 1.2 innings.

Again, the Knights jumped on the scoreboard first on a bases-loaded groundball to the third baseman. SMCC would get even an inning later courtesy of an RBI-knock by first-year Sara Ring(Wells, Maine).

The Knights opened it up with two runs in the fourth inning and five in the fifth to lead 8-1. The visitors manufactured one more in the top-half of the sixth inning to go ahead by eight runs. The Lady Wolves were unable to score in their at-bats in the bottom-half to extend the game.

CCRI's Hannah Caliri was credited the win as Guimond suffered the loss.

SMCC remains a .500 club at 14-14 overall. CCRI stands 7-13 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) circuit.

On deck for the Lady Wolves are the Herons from Great Bay Community College and a Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) doubleheader in Portsmouth, N.H. on Saturday, Apr. 21. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

For the latest on SMCC's athletic programs, log onto GoSMCCSeawolves.com or follow Southern Maine Community College Athletics on Twitter @SMCCseawolves and on Facebook SMCC Seawolves.