BANGOR, Maine — Kayla Merrill and Alannah Healy combined on a no-hitter in an 8-0 shutout in the opener on Wednesday, leading Husson University to a sweep of its North Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader against the University of Maine-Farmington.
The Eagles took the second game 11-3.
In Game 1, Merrill pitched five no-hit innings with nine strikeouts and a walk before Healy worked a perfect sixth.
Allie Hill drove in three runs with a two-run home run and an RBI single. Kayla Merrill singled twice and Sami Schultz smacked a solo homer for Husson (7-7).
Abby Burdin took the loss for the Beavers (1-3).
In the nightcap, Hill’s two-run single highlighted a seven-run third inning that keyed the five-inning win for Husson.
Lyndsay Merrill collected three singles for the Eagles and Kayla Merrill singled twice behind relief winner Deb Colpitts, who gave up three hits and an unearned run in three innings.
Kennadi Grover hit a double and an RBI single for UMF and Meryl Bond had a run-scoring infield single to support losing pitcher Emily Vitone.
Colby 3, UNE 2
At Biddeford, Katherine Zafirson’s sacrifice fly during a two-run sixth inning lifted the Mules to victory over the Nor’easters.
Julia Saul spaced four hits and two runs with five strikeouts and three walks for Colby College of Waterville (4-7). Emily Schatz rapped a run-scoring double and Tori Sansone singled twice.
Sydney Helmbrecht singled and scored a run for the University of New England (7-8) to back losing pitcher Abby Lambert, who allowed five hits but was victimized by three errors that led to two unearned runs in the seventh.
Men’s Basketball
Report: Texas close to hiring Smart
Texas is moving closer to sealing a deal with Shaka Smart as its next basketball coach.
HornsDigest.com reported Wednesday that the Longhorns appear to be close to choosing the Virginia Commonwealth coach to fill the opening and have offered him a five-year, $14.5 million contract.
The Longhorns are seeking a replacement for Rick Barnes, who was dismissed last weekend after 17 seasons as coach. Barnes accepted the job as Tennessee’s head coach on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old Smart made $1.5 million last season. In six seasons at VCU, he has led the Rams to five consecutive NCAA Tournaments berths.
Football
Iowa QB will transfer to Michigan
Iowa fifth-year senior quarterback Jake Rudock plans to transfer to Michigan after receiving a Big Ten waiver and will be eligible to play this season for the Wolverines, according to reports Wednesday.
Rudock started the past two seasons at Iowa. He needed a waiver from the Big Ten to play in his first year at his new school. Rudock has to actually graduate at Iowa before the move can be official. Iowa’s current semester ends May 15.
Rudock was once recruited to Miami by Jedd Fisch, Michigan’s new quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
Michigan has added quarterbacks to its roster since head coach Jim Harbaugh arrived in January. Freshman Alex Malzone enrolled early to take part in spring drills. Freshman Zach Gentry will join the team this summer. Former Houston starter John O’Korn plans to transfer this summer, but won’t be eligible to play until the 2016 season.
According to ESPN.com, Rudock visited Michigan’s campus in March, but still needed clearance from the Big Ten when Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz released him with “no strings attached” to play at any school. The Big Ten’s intra-conference transfer policy requires that players sit out a season even if they are eligible to play right away under NCAA graduate student transfer rules.
Rudock started 25 of the past 26 games as a Hawkeye, but he dropped behind junior C.J. Beathard on a depth chart the team released in January. Rudock completed 61.7 percent of his passes last season, throwing for 2,436 yards and 16 touchdowns.