STANDISH, ME - USM pitcher senior Melissa Henderson (Newburyport, MA) earned her 12th win and set a new school record with 14 strikeouts in a 9-1 win over St. Joe's. The USM single-season strikeout record was 149, set by Henderson in 2002 and she finished the game with a season total of 161.
After four scoreless innings, the Huskies (16-12-1) plated 3 runs in the fifth inning. St. Joe's (11-19) made it 3-1 in the bottom of the inning as sophomore Sarah Martin (Athol, MA) singled and sophomore Jamie Morrison (Auburn, ME) moved her to third with a double. Martin went on to score on a passed ball.
Southern Maine added another run in the sixth as junior Caitlyn Stivaletta (Wells, ME) singled and freshman Dawn Ross (Gray, ME) tripled to score Stivaletta.
The Huskies scored 5 runs on 3 hits in the seventh inning including a 3 run homer by pinch hitter junior Caterina Riitano (Sangerville, ME).
Martin and Morrison had the only hits for St. Joe's and senior pitcher Kahler Dowling (6-9) had two strikeouts.
Senior Ally Ferguson (Sabattus, ME) earned her fifth win of the season in a 3-2 win in game 2. USM junior Caterina Riitano drops to 2-5 with the loss.
Sophomore Jamie Morrison hit a solo home run to give St. Joe's (12-19) a 1-0 lead in the second inning. In the third inning on a two-out rally, junior Leanne Morton (Gorham, ME) singled and senior Darcy Lee (Windham, ME) doubled to score Morton and put St. Joe's up 2-0.
The Huskies (16-13-1) tied the score in the sixth inning as sophomore Danica Martin (Bridgton, ME) singled and junior Katie Mainville (Coopers Mills, ME) tripled and scored on an error.
The game went to an extra inning and each team had a turn with a runner placed on second base. Ross was placed on second for USM and Stivaletta moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt. Junior Kristin McGovern (Gorham, ME) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throw as Ross was thrown out at home.
Junior Leanne Morton was placed on second in the bottom of the eighth and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Lee struck out and the game ended as Liaci reached on an error that scored Morton.
St. Joe's plays in a two-day tournament at Colby College beginning Saturday, 4/23.
