UMBC

Orono, Maine-UMBC starter Lauren Nicholson held the Black Bears (35-16, 16-4 AEC) to just one earned run over eight innings in game one but suffered an extra-inning loss, and the Retrievers (44-18, 10-10 AEC) could not solve Maine starter Jenna Balent in game two, dropping both games of the America East doubleheader, 2-1 and 5-0, Friday afternoon at Kessock Field.

The Black Bears scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning in the first game to take a 1-0 lead, but UMBC tied it up in the top of the fifth on two walks and an RBI infield single by designated player Stevie Shore.

The score remained knotted at 1-1 through the regulation seven innings, but Maine broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and runners on second and third, second baseman Ashley Waters singled to right field to drive in the winning run.

Nicholson (18-3) pitched the complete game and suffered only her third loss of the season after allowing two runs (one earned) on 11 hits and three walks while striking out five in 7.2 innings of work. Maine’s Sarah Bennis (19-6) also went the distance for the win. She allowed one run on five hits and seven walks while striking out three in eight innings.

Shore (2-for-4) and third baseman Reilly Ward (2-for-3) each had two hits to lead the Retrievers at the plate.

The Black Bears jumped on UMBC starter Krista Kearns early in game two, scoring twice in the first and three times in the second to account for all five runs in a 5-0 win. Only one of the runs was earned, however, as the Retrievers’ defense committed three errors in those two innings.

Balent pitched a gem for Maine, retiring the first nine batters she faced in order before UMBC center fielder Kali Shirk singled to lead off the fourth inning. She was eliminated on a double play by first baseman Melanie Denischuk and Ward struck out swinging to end the inning, and Balent had still faced the minimum batters through four.

Balent (14-10) threw a two-hit complete game shutout to earn the victory. She also hit a batter but got two double plays so only faced one batter over the minimum. She struck out four Retrievers in six innings. Kearns (12-8) suffered the complete game loss after giving up five runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out nine. She limited the Black Bears to just three hits over the final four innings.

The two teams meet again for the series finale Saturday at 11 a.m.

With the doubleheader sweep, Maine clinches the top seed in the four-team America East Championships and will host the event next weekend. The Retrievers are competing with Boston University and Stony Brook for one of the final two spots.  The Terriers and Seawolves face off in a three-game series this weekend.