Kira Shaikh had four stolen bases in two games against Trinity College on April 25, 2015. (File Photo by Josh Kuckens/Bates College) 

LEWISTON, Maine - The Bates College softball team wrapped up a busy week of games Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep of NESCAC East rival Trinity College, winning the first game 2-1, and the second game, 3-1.

Bates (10-19, 4-7 NESCAC) posted a 7-3 record for the week, including the three-game sweep of Trinity (6-24, 2-10), which is the Bobcats first series shutout of a NESCAC opponent since taking three from Colby College in 2012.

Kelsey Freedman (Falmouth, Maine) also wrapped up quite a week for Bates, coming in to relieve starter Brenna Callahan (Milton, Mass.) in the seventh inning of game one to net the win, and going on to hit her third home run in as many days while throwing game two to win all there games on the mound for Bates in the series. Freedman has won six games this week and is 11-17 with three home runs and five RBIs in the past five games.

In game one, the Bobcats walked it off when Kira Shaikh (Manchester, Conn.) scored on a wild pitch, despite being held to only two hits by Trinity starter Hannah King. In game two, Freedman hit her third home run in as many days, this time a two-run opposite field shot, to provide all the offense Bates would need to complete the sweep.

Trinity out-hit Bates 7-2 in game one, led by a 3-3 performance from Miranda Riendeau and a 2-3 game from Bianca Brenz. In game two, Riendeau once again led the Bantams, going 2-3 with an RBI. King came in to relieve starter Lexi Santurri for Trinity in game two, throwing six innings and allowing one run on four hits while striking out five.

Bates returns to action on April 26, playing three games. The Bobcats will play the final game of the three game series with Colby in Waterville beginning at 11:00 am in a contest originally scheduled for April 10. From there, Bates will travel to Maine Farmington for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.


Game one Bates 2, Trinity 1

Shaikh scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh to give the Bobcats the walk-off win, in a game that once again turned into a pitcher's duel. Bantam pitcher King suffered the hard luck loss, striking out eight and allowing no earned runs in six innings, while hitting a batter.

Bates scored in the bottom of the first inning, courtesy of the speedy Shaikh, whose four stolen bases on the day now give her a NESCAC-leading 17 for the season. Shaikh reached first on a fielder's choice, and immediately took off for second. Shaikh was able to come around to score on a pair of throwing errors from the Trinity catcher and center fielder, giving Bates the 1-0 lead.

Both pitchers put up zeroes for the next five innings. But in the top of the seventh, Riendeau came through with a one out single to right, and scored all the way from first on a Victoria Baez double to left to tie the game at one.

Bobcat head coach McKell Barnes brought in Freedman with the go-ahead run in scoring position, and the righty go Cassia Armstrong to fly out to center, and Bianca Brenz to ground out to the short stop to keep the game tied at one.

In the bottom of the seventh, Shaikh was hit by a pitch to start the frame, stole second, and took both third and home on two wild pitches.

Callahan threw six and a third innings for the Bobcats, allowing seven hits and one run while striking out three, and Freedman pitched two thirds of an inning to get the win.

Game two, Bates 3, Trinity 1

Trinity scored first in game two, picking up the game's first run on an RBI single from Riendeau through the left side to score Meaghan Race, who was hit by a pitch to start the game. In the bottom of the first however, Freedman, whose home runs have all come in the first inning, deposited a Lexi Santurri pitch over the right field fence, scoring Karen Lockhart (East Greenwich, R.I.), who led off with a triple, to give Bates the 2-1 lead.

Trinity head coach Caitlin Hitchcock made a pitching change after the Freedman home run, bringing King back in to pitch her third game of the series. King ended the series throwing 18 innings while striking out two and allowing only five runs.

Bates scored what would prove to be the final run of the game in the bottom of the third. Shaikh reached base with a one out single, stole second, and came home to score on a Callahn single to center to give the Bobcats a 3-1 lead.

The Bantams mounted a substantial threat in the top of the six, as Freedman issued back to back one out walks. Riendeau singled to load the bases and with the infield drawn in, Elizabeth McQuaid hit a ground ball to Bobcat shortstop Maddie Inlow (Falmouth, Maine), who threw to home for the force out. Katharine Haghdan grounded out to pitcher to end the inning, leaving the bases full of Bantams.

Freedman had the lone multi-hit performance in game two for Bates, going 2-3 with two RBIs while Callahn was 1-3 with one RBI. Riendeau, who had five hits for the game, was 2-3 with one RBI.