BABSON PARK, Mass.-Sophomore Kristine Kahl fired a two-hit shutout in the nightcap to lead the Coast Guard softball team to a split in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference double-header on Saturday afternoon. With the split Coast Guard is now 8-12 (1-5 NEWMAC) while Babson now stands at 13-10 (5-5 NEWMAC).

Game One: Babson 9, Coast Guard 1 (5 innings)

Catcher Jessie Richardson (1-2, RBI, run) hit a two-out home run in the top of the first but that would be all the offense that Coast Guard could muster as the Bears dropped game one of a NEWMAC double-header at Babson on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 9-1 in five innings.

Babson would rally back in the bottom of the second after Coast Guard took the early lead as second baseman Madison Dinaso (1-2, RBI, run) singled up the middle to plate right fielder Lindsey Schmid (2-3, RBI, 3 runs) and knot the game at 1-1.

The Beavers would explode for seven runs an inning later to put the game in hand. The used an eight-hit attack, coupled with a pair of walks to claim the convincing lead. The big blow came with Babson leading 2-1 as left fielder Katie Guido (1-2, 3 RBI, run) launched a three-run homer to right to plate Schmid and third baseman Christa Shorette (1-3, run), making it 5-1 at the time.

With the game in hand, Babson would add a run in the fourth on an RBI groundout by pitcher Kathleen Conway to induce the 8-run rule and claim a 9-1 victory.

First baseman Hannah Ingerson (1-1) and right fielder Kelsey Gray (1-2) added a double and a single, respectively, to account for the other two Coast Guard hits on the game.

Conway (8-2) picked up the victory for Babson, working four innings and allowing just one run on one hit while striking out six against just one walk. Sophomore Sarah Sorensen (3-8) was dealt the loss for the Bears, surrendering in eight runs – seven earned – on 10 hits and a walk in 2.2 innings.

Game Two: Coast Guard 5, Babson 0

Sophomore right-hander Kristine Kahl (5-4) fired a complete game two-hitter and the Coast Guard offense pounded out nine hits as the Bears won the nightcap of a NEWMAC double-header by a score of 5-0 over Babson. The victory was the first in NEWMAC play for the Bears this season after dropping five straight to open the conference slate.

Coast Guard opened the scoring in the first inning when shortstop Morgan Kingston (1-3, run) singled to short, advanced to second on second baseman Erin Lisko's (1-2, run) sac bunt, took third on catcher Jessie Richardson's (1-4, run) ground out to the right side, and score on a base-hit to left by left fielder Erin Reynolds (2-3, RBI, run).

The score would remain 1-0 until the fifth when Coast Guard again rallied, this time to extend their lead. With the bases loaded, and center fielder Kaitlin Ward (2-4, 2 RBI) batting, a passed ball allowed Lisko to score from third and the Bears doubled their lead to 2-0. Ward would then drill a pitch to left field for a two-run double, scoring third baseman Cherokee Strickland (0-3, run) and Reynolds to once again double the Bears' advantage to 4-0.

Coast Guard would add a run in the seventh after back-to-back singles by Richardson and Reynolds put a pair of runners on with no outs to lead off the inning. Following a pair of outs, designated player Natalie Spadafora (1-4, RBI) delivered a single up the middle to plate Richardson for an insurance run.

Kahl earned the victory for the Bears, going the distance to record her first shutout of the season, allowing just two hits and striking out three without issuing a walk. Kathleen Conway (8-3) suffered the loss for Babson allowing four runs – three earned – on five hits and three walks and striking out four.

Coast Guard will be back in action tomorrow when they host Wellesley for a 12:00 pm NEWMAC double-header.