Southern Maine 9, Yellowjackets 1

CLERMONT, Fla.: Wednesday was initially a scheduled off day for the Yellowjacket softball team, a day for the team to get away from the diamond and explore what Florida has to offer. But because the Yellowjackets had a game canceled due to rain earlier in the week, they elected to forego the off day and instead add another game to the schedule.

Enter Southern Maine.

The Yellowjackets and Huskies did battle earlier in the week, with Southern Maine earning the win in five innings. And for the Yellowjackets, it was a different day but the same result. Southern Maine jumped on the Yellowjackets early and cruised to a 9-1 win at Hancock Park.

Southern Maine shut the Yellowjackets down in the top of the first and in the bottom of the inning got to work, putting three runs on the board to take the early lead. Brooke Cross did the damage, blasting a three-run home run in the inning. The Huskies put runners on base again in the second, and in the process chased Yellowjacket starting pitcher Damara Theis (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) from the game, but they couldn't push any runs across. They did score in the bottom of the third, however, pushing their lead to 5-0.

In the top of the fourth the Yellowjackets were able to break through. Gabby Gidley (Superior, Wis./Superior) methodically circled the bases, leading off the inning on a walk before moving to second on a groundout. She would advance to third on another groundout before scoring on a wild pitch to get the Yellowjackets on the board. Southern Maine got that run and then some back in the bottom of the fourth, plating three runs to move ahead 8-1.

The Yellowjackets saw their first two hitters reach base in the top of the fifth, but that was as far as they would get as the rally was snuffed out. Southern Maine would get another run in the bottom of the inning to invoke the run rule, and give the Huskies a 9-1 win.

After a masterful performance Tuesday Theis started again Wednesday, but this time around she lasted only an inning and a third, allowing three runs on three hits. She took the loss and saw her record for the year drop to 1-4. Theis was relieved by Ashley Taipale (Duluth, Minn./Denfield), who went the rest of the way, giving up six runs (two earned) on eight hits in three innings of work.

Gidley and Lizzy Borgwardt (Verona, Wis./Verona Area) had hits in the game for the Yellowjackets.