Tosses Four-Hit Shutout With Seven Strikeouts

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A timely hit from Laina Do and an outstanding pitching performance from Francesca Casalino helped Yale earn a 3-0 victory over Maine in the second game of a doubleheader on a gorgeous spring afternoon at Dewitt Family Field. Do's two-run single capped a three-run first inning, and Casalino tossed a four-hit shutout with seven strikeouts.

Maine won the first game 4-2.

Allison Skinner had four hits in the two games for the Bulldogs (16-29-1).

After dropping the first game, Yale jumped in front quickly in Game 2. Walks to Brittany Labbadia and Sydney Glover and Rachel Paris getting hit by a pitch loaded the bases. Madison Sack then worked a walk to force home the first run, and Do followed with a clutch single to centerfield that scored Glover and Paris.

That was more than enough for Casalino, who shut down a high-powered Maine offense that entered the day with a .307 team batting average. Casalino didn't allow her first hit until Meghan Royle singled with one out in the fourth.

Yale had opportunities to add to the lead, especially in the fifth. Singles by Skinner and Terra Jerpbak and a walk to Do loaded the bases, but Maine pitcher Molly Flowers retired the next hitter to end the threat.

The Bulldogs, who were playing their final non-conference games of the season, left 10 runners on base.

It was the Black Bears (20-18) who jumped out to an early lead in the first game. Maine scored once in the first and three times in the second.

Yale cut the lead in half with two runs in the third. Carlin Hagmaier tripled to start the rally and scored on Allie Souza's single to right. Singles by Labbadia and Glover loaded the bases, and Souza scored on Jerpbak's fielder's choice.

The Bulldogs threatened again in the fifth when Glover singled and went to third on Skinner's single to right field. Erin Bogdanovich came on in relief of Annie Kennedy for Maine and retired the next two hitters.

Labbadia walked to lead off the seventh and bring the tying run to the plate, but Bogdanovich set down the next three hitters to end the game.

Hagmaier and Glover both had two hits for the Yale, which left eight runners on base.

Lindsay Efflandt was outstanding pitching in relief for the Bulldogs. She tossed 5.1 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three.

Yale plays a four-game series with Brown to end the season starting on Friday in Providence. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. The teams then meet for a pair at Dewitt Family Field on Saturday starting at 12:30 p.m.