BRUNSWICK, Maine - Pitcher Kara Nilan allowed just five hits and Toni DaCampo hit a three-run home run to lead the Bowdoin College softball team to a 5-1 victory over Colby in NESCAC action on Friday at Pickard Field. The Polar Bears improve to 9-13 (2-2 NESCAC) while the Mules fall to 2-8 (0-1 NESCAC). The teams will play a doubleheader in Waterville on Saturday beginning at noon.

Nilan permitted no earned runs and struck out nine batters to improve to 5-5 this season. Lauren Becker took the loss for Colby after scattering 10 hits and allowing five earned runs. Nilan, DaCampo and Caroline Dewar had two hits apiece for the Polar Bears.

Bowdoin posted a single run in both the second and third frames, as Hillary Smyth ripped an RBI single in the second inning and DaCampo doubled home Nilan in the third to give the Polar Bears an early advantage. DaCampo struck again in the fifth, blasting her second career home run over the right-field wall to give Bowdoin a 5-0 lead.

Nilan took it from there, allowing just two hits in the first six innings. Colby scraped together a run in the seventh, as Barbara Santos scored on an error to close the gap to 5-1. The Mules loaded the bases with two outs before Nilan whiffed Allana Sanborn to close out the game.

Photos courtesy of Brian Beard and Creative Images Photography.