LEWISTON, Maine – Bates (FINALLY) opened its home schedule at Lafayette Street Field on Friday with a NESCAC rivalry doubleheader against Bowdoin, earning a 3-2 win in the opener before the Polar Bears responded with a 3-0 victory in the nightcap.
GAME ONE
Bowdoin jumped ahead 2-0 in the third inning of the opener when 3B Chloe Garcia delivered a two-run single, scoring RF Reilly Parga and LF Kyla Gary, who each had base hits of their own earlier in the frame. Bates responded immediately in the home half, taking advantage of a Bowdoin fielding error to plate two unearned runs on RBI singles from C
Isabel Bettencourt and LF
Sienna Pietrasiewicz.
The game-winner came in the fifth when RF
Grace Householter knocked a clutch RBI single up the middle, scoring CF
Zariya Anderson, who reached on a walk and advanced to second on Pietrasiewicz's second hit of the game.
Junior ace,
Delaney Rankin (11-4), went the distance for the 16th time in as many starts, scattering seven hits and striking out two without issuing a walk in the victory . Ava Biasotti (0-2) took the loss in relief for Bowdoin (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB).
Gallery: (4-25-2025) Softball vs. Bowdoin (Theophil Syslo)
GAME TWO
The Polar Bears bounced back in the nightcap behind strong pitching from starter Maddie Current and closer Kathleen Hester. Current (7-6) went five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out three. Hester earned her third save with two scoreless innings to complete the combined shutout.
Bowdoin (15-17, 4-10 NESCAC) scored in the first on an RBI double from Garcia, and added two more in the fifth thanks to a leadoff double by 2B Penelope Fong-Picariello, who eventually came in on a sacrifice fly by 1B Maddie Paschke. Garcia continued to rake as the junior capped the scoring with her second RBI two-bagger of the day, plating CF Anika Ewert (single, stolen base).
Bates managed six hits but couldn't string them together, leaving six runners on base.
Starting pitcher
Haley Alden (2-5) took the loss for the garnet and white (4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K).
The Bobcats (16-14, 7-7 NESCAC) see its next action this Wednesday with a conference doubleheader on the slate at Colby College. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.
