UMaine Softball Splits Doubleheader with Binghamton

Photo is courtesy of University of Maine

Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine softball team (16-15, 5-2 America East) handed Binghamton (21-11, 7-1 AE) its first America East loss as the two teams split a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Kessock Field. Binghamton took game one of the day by a score of 7-3 before the Black Bears shutout the league's top offense, 3-0, in game two.

Erin Bogdanovich was brilliant in game two, picking up her fourth win of the season after tossing a complete game shutout, scattering three hits and fanning five.

Offensively, Kristen Niland finished the day 4-for-6 with three RBIs, a run scored, a double and a
triple. Maine's leading hitter on the season, Janelle Bouchard, went 3-for-6 with two doubles, a run and an RBI.

In game one, Maine took a 3-1 lead after three innings but could not hold on. Binghamton reeled off two runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings on its way to a 7-3 victory.

Bouchard and Niland each tallied a pair of hits in the opener, with Bouchard doubling, scoring and run and driving in one.

Binghamton scored the first run of the afternoon when Lisa Cadogan's RBI single to left scored Gabby Bracchi.

Maine evened the score with a run of its own in the bottom of the first. Meghan Royle and Janelle Bouchard traded back-to-back doubles with Bouchard's scoring Royle.

The Black Bears captured the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Bouchard led off the inning with her second double of the game before scoring on Alyssa Derrick's single to right. Niland drove in her first run of the day later with a single into center to score Derrick.

Binghamton regained the lead as it scored plated a pair of runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning to carry a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

Maine was unable to score the rest of the way, dropping game one, 7-3.

Molly Flowers took the loss for Maine after going 5.2 innings and giving up seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits with nine strikeouts. Annie Kennedy tossed the final 1.1 innings in relief, giving up no hits and no runs with one strikeout.
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In game two, Maine received clutch hitting from Niland partnered with second shutout of the season to hand the Bearcats their first conference loss of the season.

Niland finished game two 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Rachel Harvey also added a pair of hits and scored a run for the Black Bears.

Maine got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the second when Niland's deep double to left scored Harvey. It would be all Bogdanovich and the defense would need.

The Black Bears tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth. Niland came up with her second big hit of the game, launching a deep shot off the fence in left. The leftfielder had trouble gathering the ball, allowing Felicia Lennon to score and Niland to sprint all the way around to third with a triple. Niland would soon score the third run of the contest on Maddie Moore's sac-fly to left.

Bogdanovich and the Black Bears shut the door the rest of the way, capturing the 3-0 win.

Maine looks to take the series today when it closes out weekend action with Binghamton at 11 a.m.