BRUNSWICK, Maine – Marisa O'Toole and Adriane Krul each launched a homerun over the left field fence to power the Bowdoin softball team to a 2-1 win against visiting Colby in the teams' NESCAC series opener.

The Polar Bears improve to 20-9 on the season and 7-2 in NESCAC East action. Bowdoin travels to Colby (7-14, 2-4 NESCAC) tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m. With the win, the Polar Bears reach the 20-win plateau for the ninth consecutive season.

O'Toole put the Polar Bears on the board early with a long shot over the left field fence in the opening inning. Colby threatened in the second, loading the bases with only one out, but Julia Geaumont and the Bowdoin defense were able to escape the inning unscathed. The junior pitcher tallied her second strikeout of the game to record out number two, with Claire McCarthy stepping on the plate for the force out to end the inning. Julia Saul continued to challenge the Bowdoin bats as she retired the side in order to wrap up the bottom half of the inning, inducing two groundouts and a fly ball. 

Colby tied the game in the third, capitalizing off a leadoff double from Meaghan Lewia. The senior stole third, drawing the throw, and quickly advanced home as the ball found its way to the third base fence. Lewia's run was the only allowed by Bowdoin, as the Polar Bears held the Mules scoreless through the final four innings. After neither team was able to produce in the fourth, Krul cleared the fence to give the home team a 2-1 lead and eventual win.

Saul pitched five innings for Colby, tallying two strikeouts and no walks. Megan Michie came in to throw the final inning for the Mules, allowing no runs off two hits. Geaumont went the distance for Bowdoin with seven innings pitched and six K's. The junior allowed just three hits and no earned runs.