LEWISTON, Maine – The Bowdoin softball team completed its busy Sunday schedule by finishing off a series sweep of Bates and securing a trip to the 2014 NESCAC Tournament.

Bowdoin concluded its NESCAC play with an 8-4 mark in conference and 22-12 overall. The Polar Bears took a 7-3 decision in the opening game of today's doubleheader followed by an 8-0 five inning win. Bates fell to 8-20 on the season (2-10 NESCAC).

The Polar Bears will be making their third consecutive trip to the NESCAC Tournament and will open play at Williams on Friday, May 2 at 2:30 p.m. More information about the tournament will be announced this week. Bowdoin finished as the runners-up in the 2013 championship.

After stranding three runners during the opening two innings of game one, the Bobcats struck first in the bottom of the third. With runners in scoring position, Maddie Inlow flied out to center with Alayna Garbarino tagging up at third to score. The Polar Bears answered right back as Adriane Krul led off the fourth with a double to left. Emily Griffin followed up by singling through the left side, pushing Krul to third. Julia Geaumont put the ball in play and allowed Krul to score and even the game at 1-1. The Bowdoin offense took over after that, with Krul knocking in three runs off a double down the leftfield line and scoring one play later. With Hanna Wurgaft aboard with a leadoff double to begin the sixth, Casey Correa tagged a ball up the middle for an RBI single. Dimitira Spathakis followed up by knocking in another run. Down 7-1, the Bobcats put a pair of runs up in the bottom of the sixth off a sacrifice bunt from Alex Eliopoulos and RBI by Kira Shaikh.

Krul had a pair of doubles with Nicole Nelson and Wurgaft tallying an extra base hit each. Geaumont allowed six hits and three runs on the rubber for Bowdoin, while fanning five. Kelsey Freedman pitched all seven innings for Bates with six strikeouts and three walks while allowing ten hits. 

Bowdoin's offense continued to roll as the second game picked up where the first left off. Krul led off the first with a single to center field and quickly advanced to third with consecutive stolen bases. The Bobcats were obligated to make the force out at first on the following play, allowing the runner to score from third. With Cielle Collins and Katie Gatley both on base, Wurgaft launched a homer to right center for the 4-0 lead after one. The Polar Bears tacked on two more in the following inning, with Casey Correa and Tracy Shirey crossing the plate on wild pitches. Marisa O'Toole blasted a solo shot to right field, giving Bowdoin a 7-0 lead in the top of the third. The Polar Bears final run of the day would come as Wurgaft put the ball in play and allowed Krul to score from third. Melissa DellaTorre completed her fifth solid inning of work with a pair of strikeouts.

DellaTorre faced just 18 batters in five innings, striking out half. The senior pitcher allowed just three hits and no walks in the win. Kelsey Freedman pitched her second game of the day, allowing nine hits with six K's and one walk.

Bowdoin returns to Pickard Field for their final home series against Maine-Farmington on Tuesday. The first game will begin at 3:30 p.m.