LEWISTON, Maine – Junior Kelsey Freedman struck out seven batters from the circle and recorded an RBI triple at the plate to help lead Bates College softball past Colby College, 6-2, at Lafayette Street Field on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bobcats (8-15, 2-7 NESCAC East) took the season series from the Mules (5-16, 1-8 NESCAC East) after the two teams split a doubleheader played at Husson University on April 6. Bates won game one 12-2 and Colby took game two 6-5 in the twin bill.

Freedman (Falmouth, Maine) pitched a complete-game seven innings in the win (5-9). Colby senior Aimee Polimeno (North Woodstock, N.H.) allowed six runs, four earned, over three innings in the loss (3-7) while junior Megan Michie (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) provided three scoreless innings of relief.

For the Bobcats, senior Alayna Garbarino (Reading, Mass.) and junior Kira Shaikh (Manchester, Conn.) each posted RBI doubles while first-year Maddie Inlow (Falmouth, Maine) went 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs on the day.

Bates took a 3-0 lead after the bottom of the first, scoring all of their runs with two outs in the inning. Shaikh started the rally down the left field line to plate a run, and Garbarino followed with a double to a similar spot in the outfield which brought home Shaikh. Inlow capped the inning's scoring with a single to right field, plating Garbarino.

The Bobcats doubled their lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the third as junior Brenna Callahan (Milton, Mass.) led off the inning with a walk before Freedman sent her RBI triple down the right field line. Freedman later scored off a passed ball, and Inlow again closed the inning's scoring with a single to right center which Shaikh came home on.

The Mules closed their deficit to 6-2 in the top of the fifth as first-year Kate McLaughlin (Glenburn, Maine) singled to right center with two outs to plate two runners. After two Mules walked to start the inning, first-year Grace Farnkoff (Scarborough, Maine) hit a single to right center which almost plated a run before the Bobcats recorded an out on a run down. Bates registered a second out on a ground out before McLaughin notched her two-RBI single.

Freedman struck out four Colby batters over the final two innings to preserve the win.

Next, Bates plays at Husson tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at noon while Colby hosts Tufts on Friday at 4 p.m.