JOHNSON, Vt. – Johnson State College took game one of a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) doubleheader from visiting Maine Maritime Academy 8-3, but saw the visiting Mariners respond with a 13-5 (5 Innings) triumph in game two on Saturday at Minaert Field. Johnson now stands at 9-16-1, 3-4-1 NAC while MMA sits at 10-12, 3-7 NAC.

Game One: Johnson 8, Maine Maritime 3

In game one Johnson sophomore Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt.) had a 4-for-4 day with three runs scored, two RBI, and a triple to help key an 8-3 victory for the Badgers. Sophomore Maria Gleason (Enosburg Falls, Vt.)  went 1-for-4 with two runs and an RBI to support McCullock.  Junior pitcher Meagan Russ (Burlington, Vt.) pitched a complete-game, seven-hitter, allowing three earned runs and two walks while striking out five. Russ also went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored twice.

MMA's Erica Taylor (Mesquite, Texas) took the loss as the Badgers connected on 10 hits on the day. Three errors doomed the Mariners as only three of Taylor's runs allowed were earned.  Andi Flannery (East Machias) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run while Sabrina Keach (Chesterville) drove in a pair of runs while going 1-for-3.

Johnson State jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a leadoff triple by McCullock was followed by a Gleason RBI single and an eventual Tanya Randall (Fryeburg) sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first.

The Mariners took the lead in the top of the fifth, striking for three runs with the big hit coming from Keach in the form of a two-out, two-run single making the score 3-2 MMA.

Johnson struck right back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning. McCullock and Morgan Rogerson (Hardwick, Vt.) each connected on RBI singles. The Badgers held MMA scoreless in the top of the sixth, and put three more runs on the board in the bottom of the inning to give JSC the 8-3 lead and the eventual final.

Game Two:  Maine Maritime 13, Johnson 5 (5 Innings)

Johnson saw Maine Maritime salvage a split on the day as the Mariners ran away with a 13-5 win in five innings. Keach had a tremendous game going 3-for-4 with five RBI, three runs scored, a home run, and double to spark MMA, while Leah Jackson (Dedham) had a 2-for-3 day with three runs, two RBI, and a triple. Abby Yeo (Bucksport) picked up the pitching victory allowing five earned runs over five innings and striking out three.

JSC received a 2-for-2 game from freshman catcher Amanda McLean (Woodhaven, N.Y.) that included two RBI and a run scored. Gleason added a pair of singles and two runs scored in a 2-for-3 outing.  Freshman Kristy McDonnell (Quechee, Vt.) was tagged with the loss for Johnson as she allowed four earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four in three innings pitched.

Maine Maritime scored twice in the second inning when Sam Goda (Eliot) came through with a two-run single, and scored two more in the third inning, keyed by an RBI double by Keach to make it 4-0.

A two-run single from Keach, as part of a four-run fourth, gave the Mariners what looked to be a comfortable 8-0 lead after three-and-a-half innings, but Johnson rallied for four runs in the bottom of the inning, helped by a two-run single from McLean.

MMA all but put the game away in the top of the fifth when, with two outs, a Flannery RBI double, a Yeo walk, a Jackson two-run triple, and a two-run homer by Keach all came in succession en route to a five-run stanza.  Johnson was able to plate a run in the bottom half of the fifth but the game ended as MMA held an eight-run cushion to at 13-5.

Maine Maritime moves on to play at Lyndon State today at noon.

For more sports news, pick up a copy of The Ellsworth American.