GORHAM — Biddeford bats were eerily quiet, mustering up just three base hits while falling to Gorham, 4-0, in SMAA softball action, Monday.
It was just the second loss and first blanking of the year for the Tigers, who had eked out a 1-0 win over Marshwood in their last start.
Biddeford (9-2) put just five runners aboard, and just two into scoring position.
The first of those came with two out in the top of the first.
Tigers second baseman Erin Grover slugged a line drive off the fence in left center, and legged out a triple.
But Gorham hurler Kelsey Crowe slipped out of trouble when Amethyst Hersom smoked a liner straight to second baseman Sara Burnheimer.
“Our kids have been struggling with the bat,” said Tigers coach Leon Paquin. “When we did hit the ball hard today, it was at them, and they made the plays.”
Biddeford hurler Savannah Brownell lived on the edge of danger in the first two innings.
She stranded one runner in the bottom of the first after allowing a lead off single.
Then in the second, she gave up back to back singles to open the frame, then rebounded with a pair of strikeouts and a harmless ground out to keep matters scoreless.
She was not as fortunate in the third, when Gorham (8-2) scored twice.
Both tallies came in on a sinking liner to center hit by Burnheimer.
A lead-off walk in the bottom of the fourth was cashed in later by the Rams to make it 3-0.
Crowe had retired 10 Tigers in a row before Sarah Gilblair singled to open the top of the fifth.
But they were unable to bring her in and cut into the Gorham lead.
“This girl (Crowe) strikes out 10 or 12 batters a game,” said Paquin. “She only struck out two. It’s not like she blew us away. She’s a good pitcher. They played good defense. We didn’t hit the holes.”
Gorham capped the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth.
The Tigers will return to action, Wednesday, when they’ll host Massabesic at Doran Field.
— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535 ext. 318 or dhickling@gwi.net.
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