Hartnett’s homer helps Mules to thrilling win

Paige Hartnett, here in a game earlier this season, had a two-run walk-off home run to help Colby beat Bowdoin. (Dean Denis Photography)

WATERVILLE, Maine — Paige Hartnett had the biggest hit of her young collegiate career after belting a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to help the Colby College softball team to a 4-3 win over Bowdoin College in NESCAC East play Friday.

Colby improves to 7-11 overall and 1-3 in the conference, while the Polar Bears drop to 13-10-2 and 3-4 in the league. The two teams play a doubleheader starting at noon Saturday in Brunswick.

 

The teams started placing runners on second base in the 10th inning and both teams came up with scoring.

 

Jordan Gowdy started the top of the 10th inning on second base. The Mules got two straight outs, but Julia Geaumont pushed Gowdy to third with a single. Claire McCarthy doubled to right field to bring in the go-ahead run. Colby pitcher Holly Lallis was able to get the final out on a line drive to first baseman Tori Sansone with runners on second and third.

 

Skylar Labbe was placed on second base in the bottom of the 10th inning for the Mules. Emily Schatz grounded out to push Labbe to third. Hartnett followed with her heroics on a shot to center field to end the game.

 

The two teams played a terrific game, with both starters pitching effectively and just one error in the contest.

 

Colby’s Julia Saul worked 7.1 innings, struck out seven, and walked two. Lallis earned her second win by allowing no runs over the final 2.2 innings. Meanwhile, Geaumont worked 9.1 innings, allowed just five hits, and had one strikeout for Bowdoin.

 

The Mules scored a lone run in the fourth inning when Robin Spofford singled with one out, moved to second when Sansone grounded out, and scored on Labbe’s single to right field.

 

Bowdoin tied the game in the top of the sixth inning when Caroline Rice belted her third home run of the season to right field while leading off.

The Mules got a home run of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Sansone homered to left field with two outs and the Mules were three outs away from a win.

Marisa O’Toole hit the third home run of the game to right field to start off the top of the seventh inning. Saul did stay focused and got the next three outs.

Katie McLaughlin and Labbe also had hits for the Mules.

Rice finished the day with three hits and Samantha Valdivia had two hits for the Polar Bears.

Colby 4, Bowdoin 3, 10 innings

Bowdoin    000#001#100#1—3#10#0

Colby        000#101#000#2—4#5#1

Julia Geaumont (L, 9-4) and Claire McCarthy. Julia Saul, Holly Lallis (8, W, 2-2) and Skylar Labbe. 2B: Claire McCarthy (B). HR: Caroline Rice (B), Marisa O’Toole (B), Tori Sansone (C), Paige Hartnett (C).