SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine - NHTI Softball returned to countable action for the first time in 16 days Wednesday afternoon, falling twice to Southern Maine Community College in a non-conference doubleheader at Graves Athletic Field.
The Seawolves took the opener 24-0 in five innings before defeating the Lynx 11-2 in five innings in game two. NHTI moves to 0-4 overall in the fall, while Southern Maine improves to 5-3.
Wednesday's doubleheader was originally scheduled for Sept. 18 before being postponed to Wednesday. NHTI had each of its three scheduled doubleheaders following its Sept. 14 season opener postponed, leaving the Lynx without a countable game since opening the fall against Central Maine Community College.
Game One: Southern Maine 24, NHTI 0 (5 Inn.)
Southern Maine jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning and added a run in the second before breaking the game open with 13 runs in the third and adding its final three in the fourth. The Seawolves finished with 10 hits and drew 17 walks in the victory.
NHTI was held to two hits in the opener.
Kaitlyn Durfee (Laconia, N.H.) recorded the Lynx's first hit with a bunt single in the fourth inning, while
Camilla Cote (Northfield, N.H.) singled to center in the fifth.
Kyla Kirkton (Derry, N.H.) reached on a walk in the third.
Haley Hebert (Litchfield, N.H.) started on the mound for NHTI and worked 2.2 innings before
Kyleigh Levesque (Manchester, N.H.) entered in relief for the final 1.1 innings.
Game Two: Southern Maine 11, NHTI 2 (5 Inn.)
NHTI's offense produced six hits in game two, matching Southern Maine's total, but the Seawolves took advantage of 14 walks while scoring in each of their four trips to the plate. Southern Maine led 4-0 after the first inning, 6-0 after two and 9-1 through three. The Seawolves' final two runs came in the fourth.
The Lynx broke through in the third inning behind three consecutive hits. Durfee reached on a bunt single with two outs and stole second before Cote singled to center to bring her home.
Leila Topham (Rowlett, Texas) followed with a single to center before Southern Maine escaped the inning with a groundout.
NHTI added its second run in the fifth. Durfee led off with her second hit of the game and stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Topham then brought her home with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Durfee finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases to lead the Lynx offensively. Cote, Topham, Hebert, and
Ellie Procunier (Buckeye, Ariz.) each added a hit, while Topham drove in a run. Procunier and Hebert each stole a base.
Levesque went all four innings in the circle for NHTI, allowing six hits. Southern Maine used three pitchers, with Ava Dionne earning the win after allowing one run on five hits across three innings.
Through four games this fall, Durfee leads NHTI with a .556 batting average, recording five hits in nine at-bats.
UP NEXT
NHTI is scheduled to return to action Sunday, Oct. 4 when it hosts its Alumni Game as part of Homecoming Weekend. The Lynx return to game action Monday, Oct. 5, traveling to Central Maine Community College for the rescheduled Sept. 26 countable non-conference doubleheader. Game one is set to begin at 4 p.m.
