Kelsey Freedman had five hits and a home run in two games against the University of New England on April 23, 2015. (File Photo by Josh Kuckens/Bates College) 

BIDDEFORD, Maine - Maddie Inlow and Kelsey Freedman combined for 10 hits as the Bates softball team split a doubleheader with the University of New England Thursday afternoon at Claude Dubois Field in non-conference action. Bates won the first game, 5-4 and fell in the nightcap, 9-7.

The Bobcats (7-19) have now won four of their past six games. 

Bates pounded out 10 hits in the first game, led by a 3-4 performance from pitcher Freedman (Falmouth, Maine) who allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out eight to pick up her second win in as many days. One of Freedman's hits included her first home run of the season. UNE (16-18) had multi-hit performances from three players, led by Cat Ouellette, who was 2-4 with two runs scored.

In game two, the Bobcats again punched out ten hits, led by a 3-4 performance from Inlow (Falmouth, Maine), who was 3-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. The Nor'easters pounded out 13 hits in the nightcap, led by Sydney Helmbrecht was was 3-3 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Abby Lambert was 2-4 with three RBIs and Sara Pelkey went the distance to pick up her fifth win of the season. 

Bates begins a three game series with NESCAC East rival Trinity College, playing a single game on April 24, in Lewiston, Maine at 4:00 p.m.

Game one, Bates 5, UNE 4

Freedman became the second Bates pitcher in as many days to help herself with a home run when she deposited a Katelyn Austin pitch over the left field fence to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.

The Nor'easters took the lead back in bottom of the first, as Amanda Vallante singled down the left field line to drive home Ouellette, who singled to start the inning. Kelly Murphy came through with a two out triple to left field to put UNE ahead, 2-1.

The two teams traded zeros over the next four innings, but Bates rallied to tie and take the lead with three runs in the sixth and added a necessary insurance run in the seventh. With one on an one out, Inlow singled through the left side, driving home Kira Shaikh (Manchester, Conn.) with the tying run and eventually taking third on a UNE miscue. Brenna Callahan (Milton, Mass.) executed a successful safety squeeze to give the Bobcats a 3-2 lead and Paige Ahlholm (North Andover, Mass.) then doubled home Callahan to give Bates the 4-2 lead.

UNE closed to within one with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but Inlow knocked in Freedman in the bottom of the seventh with her second hit of the game. Inlow was 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Ouellette, Vallante, and Murphy each had two hits for UNE. 

Game two, UNE 9, Bates 7

The Bobcats trailed by as many as six runs in game two, but rallied for four runs in the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate before UNE pitcher Sara Pelkey induced a ground ball from sophomore Jenney Abbott (Rangeley, Maine) to end the game.

Bates carried the momentum into game two, scoring two runs on three hits off of Pelkey in the top of the first. Freedman tapped her fourth hit of the day on an infield single and Shaikh singled up the middle, moving Freedman to third. After Shaikh swiped her second bag of the day, Inlow once again ripped a shot through the left side of the field to drive in both runs and give Bates the 2-0 lead.

The Nor'easters regained the lead with three runs on three hits in the first and added three more in the second on four straight singles. Both teams scored in the sixth inning, as the Bobcats picked up one unearned run on an error in the top of the sixth and UNE once again netted what would prove to be two vital runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning.  

The Bobcat rally in the top of the seventh began with consecutive singles by first-year Emma Schiller (Natick, Mass.) and junior Karen Lockhart (East Greenwich, R.I.). Freedman followed with a single to left and two runs came home on a throwing error. Bates scored two more runs courtesy of the second UNE error of the inning and another single from Inlow. 

Four players had multi-hit performances for Bates, led by Inlow's 3-4, three RBI performance. Shaikh, Freedman, and Lockhart were each 2-4, with Freedman and Shaikh also knocking in a run each. Shaikh stole three bases in game two, giving her four on the afternoon and nine for the season. 

Callahan was on the mound for Bates, allowing nine earned runs on 13 hits, while Pelkey allowed seven runs on ten hits while picking up the win for UNE.