HAMPDEN, ME
It was an unexpected site for UMPI Softball's senior day as rain forced UMPI downstate to a turf facility that would allow UMPI's four seniors to play their final "home" games of their careers. Megan Buchholz, Hailey Saylor, Zoe Stewart, and Gracelyn Walsh were all honored for their dedication to the program over the last four seasons. They made it a good senior day on the field as well, sweeping the day over Lesley to finish with 15 wins on the regular season, and are entering the NAC playoffs as the number six seed.
Game 1: 9-5 Owls
Although Lesley was eliminated from playoff contention before the day began, they did not make anything easy in game one. The Lynx scored once in the 1st, while keeping the Owls off the board through the first two innings. Lesley's lead grew to 3-0 after the top of the 3rd, before UMPI got on the board and responded back to make it 3-2. In the top of the 4th, Lesley scored twice more again, using productive outs to their advantage and grabbing a 5-2 lead, before blanking the Owls in the bottom half.
It was crunch time for UMPI, who needed to come from behind in order to salvage a win before the senior ceremonies between games. The Owls did exactly that, making it a quick top half of the 5th, and coming through with their biggest inning of the game, scoring four times on five hits to take a 6-5 lead. They added three more for insurance purposes to lead 9-5, before closing out the game for their 14th victory of the season.
Top Performers:
Gracelyn Walsh went 2-3 with two runs scored including a double, while Megan Buchholz went 2-4 with two runs scored, a double and three RBI. Michaela Carney went 2-4 with two RBI and a double as well. In the circle, Gracelyn Walsh tossed all seven innings for her 7th complete game of the year and 6th win. She allowed four earned runs and struck out three Lynx.
Game 2: 7-2 Fighting Tigers
Game two was more of the stress-free variety, as the Owls got the offense rolling early this time. They scored three in the first inning on RBI hits from Walsh and Buchholz, before tacking on two more in the 2nd and one more in the 3rd. They weren't quite at run-rule territory yet, leading 6-0 after a scoreless 4th. Lesley got on the board in the 5th, but UMPI was able to walk it off in the bottom of the 5th, scoring three runs to win it 9-1 and shorten the game.
Top Performers:
Gracelyn Walsh continued to be the heartbeat of the UMPI offense, extending her hitting streak to 27 straight games while going 4-4 with a double and four RBI. Â Zoe Stewart was right there with her, going 3-4 with three doubles and an RBI along with three runs scored. Megan Buchholz and Sabrina Kauffman each had a pair of singles as well.
Madison Boynton was more than solid in the circle, tossing five innings, giving up three hits and not a single earned run, while striking out six batters.
Next Up:
The Owls finish out the regular season at 15-18, their best mark in years, as well as winning the most conference games in history, going 9-7. The Owls lost out on a tiebreaker for the five seed, meaning they were the last team in to the playoff field, but have qualified for postseason play for the first time since 2023.
They will play the #3 seeded SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers at noon on Thursday, May 7th. That game will be played at Husson University who earned the top seed and the right to host the tournament once again.
