CASTINE — Colby used late-inning runs to sweep Maine Maritime 4-3, 4-2 in softball at Ritchie Field Sunday afternoon. The Mules (4-10) broke a 3-3 tie with a run in the sixth to take the first game against the Mariners (7-5), and then posted a pair in the seventh in order to secure the nightcap.

With a pair of runners aboard and one out in the top of the sixth, Carolyn Bennett (Scarborough) reached on an error at shortstop that allowed Erin Caputo to break a 3-3 tie that had stood since the first inning of the opener. Both Colby and Maine Maritime had first-year twirlers in the circle, and each were gashed early before settling in.

Colby punched up three runs in the top of the first when sophomore Brianne Wheeler (Brussels, Ont.) booked a round trip for her and two of her friends. Lindasy Peterson (Fairfield, Conn.) had reached on a one-out double into right before Katie Graichen (Arundel) got on board with a walk. Wheeler made Abby Yeo (Bucksport) pay on an 0-1 count, sending a shot over the leftfield fence for the 3-0 jump.

Wheeler went a combined 4-for-7 with a double, a home run and four runs batted in on the afternoon.

Yeo rallied the Mariners in the bottom of the frame with a one-out double in the leftfield gap. Leah Jackson (Dedham) brought her home, before Sabrina Keach (Chesterville) brought Jackson back to the dish. Autumn Jones (Windham) punched up a two-out single through the left side to plate Keach.

Yeo and Colby pitcher, Megan Michie (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) took over from there. Michie struck out seven and allowed only two hits the rest of the way to move to 2-2 on the season. Yeo only allowed three hits the rest of the way, but was saddled with the loss on the unearned run in the sixth, falling to 3-2 on the year. Yeo and Colby's Peterson, were the only two players recording multiple hits in the opener.

The Mules jumped on MMA in the first again in the nightcap, putting up a pair of runs on three hits. Wheeler grounded out to second to turn Meaghan Lewia's (Wells) leadoff single into the first run, while a Peterson double into right center turned Graichen's single into the second run.

This time around, the Mariners did not have an immediate answer.

That's because Colby's Caputo (1-2) twirled a gem in the nightcap, scattering five hits and striking out six for her first win of the season. She allowed two runs in the bottom of the seventh when Maine Maritime pitcher Erica Taylor (Mesquite, Texas) cut the Mules 4-0 lead in half with her third jack of the year. He two-run shot down the leftfield line plated Keach, who had reached on a one-out single.

Taylor's effort went for naught as the Mariners' defense shortchanged her in the top of the seventh. Wheeler reached on a leadoff double down the leftfield line that went over the head of MMA's shortstop, who had waved off Jones in left. Several suspect fielders choices left the bags juiced for Caputo, who aided her own cause by plating Peterson. Peterson went 3-for-8 on the afternoon, scoring twice and driving in one. Her insurance run in game two proved to be the difference. Bennett singled into center to put the fourth run on the board.

Maine Maritime returns to action on Wednesday afternoon when the Mariners head out on the road to Bates.

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