UMBC

ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine softball team defeated UMBC, 6-1 in the opening game of the three-game America East Conference series Friday afternoon at Mike Kessock Field in Orono. Maine pounded UMBC for 13 hits, while sophomore pitcher Sarah Bennis threw a two-hitter with eight strikeouts. Maine is now 16-14 on the season and 4-3 in conference play, while UMBC drops to 20-24 overall and 1-7 in the America East.

Maine scored two in the first inning when sophomore Brittany Cheney and junior Jess Brady led off with bunt singles. Cheney scored on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Molly McKinney, while senior Nicole Taylor hit an RBI single down the right field line to bring in Brady. Maine added to its lead in the second inning with an RBI single by junior Lauren Dulkis who brought in junior Lindsey Tibbetts who led off the inning with a single.

UMBC capitalized on a Maine error with two outs in the third for Sarah Crowell to hit an RBI double to bring in Amanda Bile. However, Maine continued its offensive assault in the fourth when sophomore Erin Provost hit a two-RBI single to score Brady and Dulkis. In the fifth, senior Sara Asadoorian scored on a wild pitch after advancing to third on a UMBC erroneous throw to second on a stolen base.

The two teams will meet in a doubleheader tomorrow at Kessock Field beginning at 11 a.m.