UMaine Softball Completes Weekend Sweep of Hartford

Recap, photo courtesy of UMaine

Black Bears move to 3-0 in league play
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Erika Leonard and Rachel Carlson each recorded two hits and scored two runs as the University of Maine softball team completed a weekend sweep at Hartford with a 6-2 decision on Sunday afternoon. The Black Bears have now won five in a row and begin America East action with a 3-0 mark.

Annie Kennedy recorded her second win of the weekend in the circle after giving up two runs, one earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Kennedy extended her streak of innings without a walk to 31 straight while improving to 6-3 on the season.

Carlson, who notched her ninth multi-hit game of the season, also knocked in two runs while Maddie Decker added a two-RBI performance in the Maine (12-14, 3-0) victory.

The Black Bears jumped out to a two run lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Leonard started the game with a single to left, advanced to second on the throw and moved to third on Laurine German's sacrifice bunt. Carlson knocked in Leonard with an infield single to short. Maine kept the rally alive when Carlson advanced to second and third on a passed ball before soon scoring on Decker's sacrifice fly to center.

Maine extended its lead to 6-0 with a four-run top of the fifth. Shanna Scribner singled to begin the inning and advanced to third on Leonard's double to right. German reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Scribner, before Leonard came in on a throwing error by the Hartford catcher. Carlson's triple to center brought around German with Maine's fifth run before Decker's second RBI of the day came on another sacrifice fly. Carlson's run put the Black Bears on top, 6-0.

The Hawks (6-12, 0-3) were able to get two back in the home half of the fifth but failed to close the gap any further. Molly Flowers came on in relief, tossing 2.1 shutout innings with one strikeout to help lift the Black Bears over Hartford, 6-2.

Maine continues America East league action on Saturday, April 7 when it travels for a doubleheader at UAlbany. First pitch against the Great Danes on Saturday is set for 1 p.m. The teams will close the series with a single game on Sunday beginning at noon.

-UMaine-