5/4/08

Softball loses to Lesley in NAC title game

Lauren Overlock
Sarah Defilipp
McKell Barnes

The University of Maine at Farmington softball team lost 6-1 to Lesley University in the North Atlantic Conference title game today at Husson College.

The Beavers finished their season at 24-9. The Lynx improved to 30-10 and receive the NAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championships.

Lauren Overlock (Belfast, ME), Sarah Defilipp (Brewer, ME) and McKell Barnes (Durham, ME) received NAC All-Tournament honors, but Farmington was unable to stop the Lynx. Lesley defeated the Beavers 5-2 on Saturday to force today's if-necessary game.

IWith one out in the top of the third, Cabral-Pini singled and stole second to get into scoring position.  Alyson Durben (Stow, MA) then lined a shot down the right field line for a triple, scoring Cabral-Pini to put the Lynx on top 1-0. Jodi Fralick (Woburn, MA) then stepped to the plate and singled to left field scoring Durben, giving Lesley a 2-0 lead.  In the bottom of the third, Overlock led off the inning with a bunt single. Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, FL) struck out the next batter and catcher Fralick made a great sliding catch near the fence to give the Beavers two outs. Barnes hit Overlock in on a double that hit the fence cutting Lesley’s lead to one.

After a scoreless fourth inning the Beavers looked to tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth inning.  With Overlock on second base with two outs, Kasey McPhail (Benton, ME) hit a deep shot to right-center field, but centerfielder Gianna Spaziante (Hawthorne, NY) ranged over and made a great over the shoulder catch.

In the top of the of the sixth inning Lesley extended their lead to 3-1 off a RBI double by Christina DiGiorgio (Jr. Lowell, MA).  In the bottom of the sixth inning Burnett got the first two Beavers to pop up before she gave up a single that almost hit her to Katelyn Ross (Belfast, ME). Burnett then got the next batter to groundout to second base to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Cabral-Pini started off the inning with a double to left-center field.  Durben then reached base on an error which ended up scoring Cabral-Pini. Fralick then stepped to the plate and singled to left field. The Beavers brought in pitcher Liz Bergeron (Milford, ME).  Bergeron got her first batter to fly out to right field, but Sarah Wilson (Lowell, MA) sent a liner right on the right field line all the way to the fence as she picked up a two RBI triple, making the score 6-1 in favor of the Lynx. The next two batters popped up and struck out, but the damage had already been done as Lesley extended its lead to five runs.

In the bottom of the seventh with one out right fielder Durben made an amazing full extension diving catch to rob Defilipp of a hit. Kelly McDonough (Windham, ME) then ripped a double to left field, but Burnett got the next batter to fly out to right field as Lesley won the NAC Championship by defeating Farmington 6-1.

Lesley was led by pitcher Burnett who pitched her fifth complete game in three days. Burnett went seven innings giving up one run on eight hits and two walks while striking out four.

Fralick went 4-4 with one RBI and one run scored.  Wilson added a triple, single and two RBI.  Durben added an RBI triple. Cabral-Pini contributed a double and single for the victorious Lynx.

Overlock and Breanna Conners (Madison, ME) led the Beavers of Farmington with two hits. Barnes added an RBI double for the Beavers.