UMaine Softball Splits Doubleheader with UMBC to Close Regular Season

Photo is courtesy of University of Maine

Orono, Maine -- Molly Flowers tossed a no-hitter to lead the University of Maine softball team (25-19, 12-5 America East) to a 6-0 victory over UMBC (24-29, 5-11 AE) in game one of a doubleheader. UMBC spoiled the sweep for Maine, taking game two by a score of 2-1.

Janelle Bouchard led the offense on her senior day, going 4-for-7 with her fourth home run of the season, a double and three RBI. Felicia Lennon extended her on-base streak to 22 games with a pair of hits and two RBI and Sarah Coyne added a pair of hits and scored two runs.

Flowers was sensational in game one, surrendering just one walk and striking out 12 on her way to her fourth no-hitter of the season and her 10th win overall.

Bouchard recorded a pair of hits, drove in two runs and scored another in Maine's 6-0 victory in game one.

The Black Bears broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs,
Bouchard roped a double to right center, bringing in Coyne with the game's first run. Lennon plated two more with her double to right center before scoring herself on Alyssa Derrick's triple off the wall in right.

Maine tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Erika Leonard's RBI double to right center brought around Coyne before Bouchard drove in her second of the game, scoring Leonard with a single to the gap in right.

Flowers and the defense held on the rest of the way to secure Maine's 6-0 victory.
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In game two, Bouchard added two more hits, scored a run and drove in another but it wouldn't be enough as the Black Bears failed to complete the sweep, falling to UMBC, 2-1.

The Retrievers scored their first run of the weekend in the top of the third to take the lead. With runners on the corners, Brdget O'Malley attempted to steal second. Maine's throw down forced O'Malley to change her direction. However, Jaclyn Buckley would scamper in from third on the play, putting UMBC on top, 1-0.

The Black Bears tied the game in the fourth on Bouchard's home run to right center.

UMBC regained the lead with a run in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Danielle O'Neill singled to right center before coming around to score on Sganga's double down the line in right.

Maine was able to get runners on in both the sixth and seventh innings but could not score as UMBC escaped with a 2-1 win.

Annie Kenndy took the game two loss for Maine after tossing 5.2 innings and giving up two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Erin Bogdanovich pitched a scoreless 1.1 innings, surrendering just one hit and fanning a pair.

Maine will await its postseason fate as it will finish as either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the upcoming America East Championship. Stay tuned to GoBlackBears.com for all postseason details.

-UMaine-