NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The University of Maine softball team earned two shutout victories on the second day of the Bulldog Invitational, topping Sacred Heart and Yale behind complete game efforts from Alysen Rieth and Madison Simmerman.

Game 17
Score:  Maine 9, Sacred Heart 0
Stadium: 5K Corral Field at Dewitt Family Stadium

How it Happened

• Scoreless after one inning, Maine exploded for five runs in the top of the second stanza … first Kyli Hernandez drove in two runs with a double and then two batters later, Gabby Papushka crushed a three-run home run.
• Sacred Heart loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning but Alysen Rieth used a strikeout and a fly out to get out of the jam.
• The Black Bears added two runs in the fifth inning when Keira Inman sent her first career home run over the center field fence.
• In the top of the seventh, Bailey Snowberger sent a two-run double to left field for the 9-0 cushion.
• Rieth allowed just three runners after the third inning, stranding one each in the fourth, fifth and sixth before collecting a strikeout and two groundouts to end the game.

Game Notes

• Alysen Rieth earned the complete-game win for the Black Bears … she allowed just three hits while striking out seven and walking six over her 7.0 innings … she allowed just three runners after the third inning, stranding one each in the fourth, fifth and sixth.
• Francesca Guerrera was 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored.
• Keira Inman went 2-for-4 with two RBI from her first career home run.
• Gabby Papushka was 1-for-3 with a three-run home run.
• Kyli Hernandez had two RBI while going 1-for-4.
• Morgan Pool was 1-for-1 with three walks earned.
• The win marked Maine's first shutout victory since May 11, 2023 against UMass Lowell.
• Maine's 11 hits mark a season-high and are the most for Maine in a DI game since May 10, 2023 against Bryant.

Game 18
Score:  Maine 3, Yale 0
Stadium: 5K Corral Field at Dewitt Family Stadium

How it Happened

• The Black Bears took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first … Kyrah Haba-Dailey singled and stole second before coming around on a Bailey Snowberger down the right field line.
• The Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the first but left two on … the bottom of the third, Yale loaded the bases but Simmerman forced a groundout to get out of the jam.
• In the fifth, Haba-Dailey drove in Immy Gie and then Snowberger's double to left center plated Haba-Dailey for the 3-0 lead.
• Yale got a runner to second in the bottom of the seventh but Simmerman got the game-ending groundout.

Game Notes

• Madison Simmerman started, throwing the complete 7.0 innings … she allowed six hits while walking one and striking out one.
• The win marked the first time Maine has had back-to-back shutout wins since April 2018.
• Bailey Snowberger went 3-for-4 with two RBI … Kyrah Haba-Dailey was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored.
• Immy Gie, Maggie Helms and Kyli Hernandez also knocked hits for the Black Bears, with Gie also scoring a run.
• Morgan Pool earned two walks to bring her total on the day to five.

 
Up Next

• The Black Bears will play one game on Sunday to close out the Bulldog Invitational with an 11 a.m. first pitch against Central Connecticut State.