Kelsey Freedman threw eight innings of one-hit softball against Colby College on April 11, 2015. (File Photo by Josh Kuckens/Bates College)

LEWISTON, Maine – The Bates softball team picked up their second extra-inning win of the season,  winning the first end of a double-header 2-1 before dropping the second game 6-5.

Senior Kelsey Freedman (Falmouth, Maine) threw the eight inning one hitter for Bates (2-13, 1-4 NESCAC), giving up only one unearned run to pick up the win a pitching duel in game one. Her counterpart, Megan Michie allowed one earned run and struck out five in 7.2 innings in game one for Colby. In game two, Colby (6-12, 2-3 NESCAC) benefitted from a pair of timely home runs off the bats of Skylar Labbe and Emily Schatz and survived a seventh inning come-back bid by the Bobcats to get the win.

Bates returns to action on Sunday April 12 when the team travels to No. 1 Tufts University for a NESCAC double-header beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Game one recap - Bates 2, Colby 1 (8 innings)

Senior Kira Shaikh (Manchester, Conn.) scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth when a Paige Ahlholm (North Andover, Mass.) shot to center field was mishandled, allowing Shaikh to hustle home from second base. Shaikh had reached on a one-out single and and swiped second base to put herself in scoring position.

Colby got on the board first in game one, as Meaghan Lewia drew a lead off walk. Freedman retired the next two batters before issuing back to back walks to Tori Samson and Grace Farnkoff. Lewia scored the game's first run on a passed ball.

The Bobcats tied the game in the bottom of the third. Jenney Abbott (Rangely, Maine) started the frame with a single and moved up on an error. First-year Emma Schiller (Natick, Mass.) moved the runners over on a sacrifice bunt, and Karen Lockhart (East Greenwich, R.I.) tied the game a sacrifice bunt of her own.

The game remained knotted at one until Shaikh scored the winning run in the eighth. Shaikh and Jenney Abbott led the Bobcats in game one, each recording two hits in the win.

Tori Sansone recorded the lone hit of the game off of Freedman, a double in the fourth inning.

Game two recap - Colby 6, Bates 5

After being shut down in game one, Colby came through with ten hits in the second game, led by Skylar Labbe, who was 3-4 with 3 RBI's and a run scored. Emily Schatz was 2-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Kathleeen Mason added a hit and an RBI for the Mules. Julia Saul threw six and a third innings to pick up the win, and Michie returned to the mound to record the final out and pick up the save for Colby.

Kira Shaikh once again led the Bobcats on offense, with her second home run of the season, going 2-4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI's. First-year Emma Schiller was 2-3 with a run scored, while senior Brenna Callahan (Milton, Mass.) threw five and a third innings for the Bobcats, giving up six runs on ten hits while striking out five. Freedman threw the final inning and a third for Bates.

Colby wasted no time getting on the board, as Meaghan Lewia started the game with a single to center and then stole second. Kathleen Mason ripped a single down the left field line to plate Lewia and Schatz followed with a two-run shot to left center to give the Mules a 3-0 lead.

The Bobcats answered in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs. Kelsey Freedman doubled to right field and took second on a Karen Lockhart sacrifice bunt. Shaikh singled through the left side to plate Freedman. After a stolen base, Shaikh scored on a throwing error to bring Bates within one.

Brenna Callahan shut down the Mules over the next four innings, but so did her mound opponent, Julia Saul. Colby loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, but Callahan was able to wiggle out of the jam, forcing Robin Spofford to ground out to end the threat.

The Mules came through with their second big inning of the day in the top of the sixth though, highlighted by a three run home run to left center field off the bat of first-year Skylar Labbe.

The Bobcats mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, though, as Schiller led off with a single up the middle. Junior Marina Barsoum (Newark, N.J.) beat out an infield single to third to put runners on first and second with nobody out.  Karen Lockhart grounded out to third to bring home Schiller and Barsoum crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Shaiikh's home run to left field put the Bobcats within one, 6-5.

Colby's Megan Michie came in to pitch, retiring Jenney Abbott to pick up the save for Colby.