The University of Maine softball team got two very strong pitching performances but was only able to come up with a split in a America East doubleheader at Albany Field against the Great Danes Saturday afternoon.
In the first game Maine jumped on the board first as Janelle Bouchard singled in Erika Leonard to make it 1-0 Maine.
Albany tied the score in the third inning on a RBI single by Maggie Cocks to center field. Albany took the lead and scored the game winner when Donna Conrad led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo homerun to make it 2-1 and ended up as the final score.
Molly Flowers (8-9) was the tough luck loser for the Black Bears going six innings, allowing only two runs on three hits and striking out 10.
In the second game the two teams were scoreless through the first two innings before Leonard opened up the scoring for Maine with a solo homerun in the top of the third to make it 1-0.
Albany responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the third when Cocks reached on a Maine error allowing the tying run to come across.
Maine regained the lead when Bouchard ripped a solo homer in the top of the sixth to make it 2-1 Black Bears. Maine added an insurance run in the seventh when Maddie Decker slapped an RBI single into center field to make it 3-1 and finish the scoring on the day.
Erin Bogdonavich (6-4) had her third straight complete game performance. Bogdonavich allowed just one run, none earned, on two hits, and six strikeouts. She has only allowed 1 earned run in her last three outings, all complete games.
Albany is now 28-12 overall and drops their first conference game of the season to go to 8-1 in America East. Maine is now 19-16 and 7-3 in the conference. The two teams will finish off their three game set with the rubber game Sunday at noon.
Game One
UMAINE 1 0 0 0 0 0 0- 1 4 0
UALBANY 0 0 1 1 0 0 x- 2 3 0
Left on base- Maine 6, Albany 4
Game Two
UMAINE 0 0 1 0 0 1 1- 3 9 1
UALBANY 0 0 1 0 0 0 0- 1 2 0
Left on base- Maine 5, Albany 3
