BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College softball team opened its home schedule successfully with a doubleheader sweep of the University of Maine-Farmington 1-0 and 11-0 on Thursday afternoon at Pickard Field. The Polar Bears improve to 8-13 this season while the Beavers fall to 0-6 overall.

Bowdoin prevailed in a pitcher's duel in the opener as first-year Melissa DellaTorre permitted just four hits and struck out nine to lead the Polar Bears to a 1-0 win. Despite nine hits, Bowdoin was unable to get to Farmington pitcher Emma Vaillancourt until the final inning. Hillary Smyth got the winning rally started with a walk as Bowdoin proceeded to load the bases with no one out. Amy Hackett, who went 3-3 in the opener, hit a looper to deep short that allowed Smyth to come home with the game's lone run to clinch the victory.

The Polar Bears used a four-run third inning and a seven-run fourth to seal a mercy-rule victory in the nightcap. Bowdoin scored all four runs with two outs in the fourth frame as doubles by Smyth, Toni DaCampo and Gen Barlow keyed the rally. Bowdoin batted around without an out to start the fourth frame, as the first nine Polar Bears reached base in the inning. Trica Thibodeau did the rest in the circle for Bowdoin, allowing one hit over five innings for the win. Kaitlyn Bartlett was tagged with the loss for Farmington after allowing 13 hits and 10 earned runs.

Bartlett led the Beaver offense with two hits on the afternoon. Hackett finished the day with four hits, including a triple and two RBI's, and also walked twice for the Polar Bears. Molly Nestor had four hits while Casey Correa and Gen Barlow had three apiece.

Bowdoin will return to action on Friday afternoon when they host Colby in NESCAC action at 4:00 p.m. The Beavers will travel to play Lyndon at Marshwood High School on Saturday.