The University of Maine softball team reached 20 wins for consecutive seasons for the first time in six years by splitting a non conference doubleheader at Yale on Wednesday afternoon.
In the first game Maine got two runs batted in from Alyssa Derrick and ran out to a 4-0 second inning lead and held on to defeat Yale 4-2.
Erika Leonard and Meghan Royle had two hits each to pace the Black Bear offense. Annie Kennedy (6-4) earned the win in the circle going 4.1 innings allowing two earned runs, on seven hits, while walking nobody, and striking out two. Erin Bogdonavich earned her first save by pitching the last 2.2 innings and allowing just one hit, walking one, and fanning three.
In the second game Yale got three runs in the bottom of the first inning and got a strong pitching performance by Francesca Casalino and blanked Maine 3-0.
Madison Sack drove in a run and Laina Do drove in a pair in the decisive first inning to lead the Yale Bulldogs to victory. Allison Skinner also had three hits.
Molly Flowers (8-10) took the loss for Maine going five innings and allowing three earned runs, on five hits, walking four and striking out four.
Casalino (4-9) silenced the Black Bear bats by going the distance and allowing no runs, four hits, two walks and had seven strikeouts.
Leonard, Rachel Carlson, Felicia Lennon and Royle had the four Maine hits in the contest.
Maine is now 20-18 and will return to America East action this weekend when it travels to Hartford. A doubleheader will be played Saturday starting at noon and then a single game closes out the series Sunday at 11 a.m. Yale is now 16-29-1 and swings back into their league play with doubleheaders both Friday and Saturday against Brown.
Game One
MAINE 1 3 0 0 0 0 0- 4 8 0
YALE 0 0 2 0 0 0 0- 2 8 1
Left on base- Maine 5, Yale 8
Game Two
MAINE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 4 2
YALE 3 0 0 0 0 0 x- 3 6 1
Left on base- Maine 8, Yale 10
