© Christine Cochrane
© Christine Cochrane

Packard Pitches UMaine-Presque Isle Past MMA In Doubleheader Sweep

University of Maine-Presque Isle senior pitcher Sara Packard (St. Albans, ME) picked up both ends of a Sunday doubleheader at Alison Rollins Field as the visiting Owls slipped past the Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers in the early game by a score of 7-6 before closing out their trip to Buzzards Bay with a 7-1 victory in the second contest of the twinbill.

Packard held the Buccaneers to one unearned run on one hit through the first four frames of the opener. Freshman Brookelynn Garcia (Torrance, CA) stepped into the circle for the Owls in the fifth inning and the Buccaneers got to her for three runs on a pair of hits. Sophomore Melissa Cochrane (Walpole, Mass.) and Junior Rachel Gardner (Bourne, Mass.) walked to open the inning setting the stage for a two-out, two-run double off the bat of sophomore Jill Corazzini (Paxton, Mass.). Corazzini then crossed the plate as she wheeled her way around third and in to score on a base hit by senior Carli Thomas (Brewster, Mass.).

The Owls answered in the top of the sixth sending nine batters to the plate and putting five more runs on the scoreboard taking a 7-4 lead behind four base hits, a walk and an MMA fielding error.

The Buccaneers got a pair back in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch and an RBI double by sophomore Madison Ovadek (Greenland, N.H.) that scored senior Kaylene Murphy (Randolph, Mass.).

Packard returned to the pitching circle in the bottom of the seventh and nailed down the win retiring the Buccaneers in order.

Junior Jordi Legassi  (Presque Isle, ME) finished the opener going 2-for-4 for the Owls with triple to lead off the first inning and came into score on a ground out by freshman Marissa Reagle (Seattle, WA.). Reagle ended the day with three hits an RBI and scored a run. Freshman Melanee Terry (Moreno Valley, CA) had a pair of hits for the Owls as did Packard.

Cochrane and Thomas each finished the opener with a pair of hits for the Buccaneers.

Packard held the Buccaneers to one run on seven hits in the second game of the day as she picked up the 7-1 victory. MMA sophomore Jenna Nalette (Goffstown, N.H.) doubled in the second inning and came around to score on a base hit by freshman Madison Coughlin (Monroe, CT) to account for the lone MMA run. The Buccaneers threatened in the third loading the bases with one out, but could not capitalize.

UMPI came out swinging to open the second game posting two runs on four hits in the top of the first. They opened things up in the fourth sending 10 batters to the dish adding five more runs on four hits.

Terry went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and two walks in the cleanup spot for the Owls in the second game. She had an RBI and a run scored. Reagle finished game two 2-for-4 with a triple and a base hit. She scored two runs and had an RBI. Packard walked one and struckout three in earning her second win of the day.

Nalette took the loss in game one for the Bucs surrendering seven runs, only five of them earned on 10 hits while striking out one. She walked four. Cochrane took the game two loss for MMA in seven innings surrendering five earned runs on 12 hits, while walking two and striking out eight.

The Buccaneers (2-16, 0-6 MASCAC) return to action on Tuesday, April 17 when they will travel to Framingham State University for a one o'clock doubleheader with the Rams. The Owls (15-8) are back in action on Thursday at Lyndon State for a doubleheader begining at 3:30 PM.

Dan Crowley, Sports Information Assistant