The University of Maine softball team dropped their first game of the America East Tournament to Albany on Wednesday 7-3, but stayed alive by knocking out UMass-Lowell 3-0 in an elimination contest at Bearcat Softball Complex in Binghamton, New York.
In the first game- Maine had two leads, but #3 seed Albany scored the final five runs to pick up the victory. The Black Bears final lead of 3-2 came on a line drive to centerfield by Kyrah Haba-Dailey that went as a two-run error in the top of the third inning. The Great Danes took over from there, scoring three times in their at bat in the last of the third on a two-run double by Deanna Grahek and another double by Victoria Vilarchao that also drove in a run. Gabby Papushka had two hits for Maine. Madison Simmerman took the loss in the circle allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits in 2.0 innings.
In the elimination game- Maine got single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings and a complete game shutout in the circle by Simmerman to keep their season alive. The Black Bears got the only run needed on a wild pitch in the third, and then got an RBI double from Keira Inman in the fourth, and an RBI triple from Papushka in the fifth. Simmerman (6-12) took care of the rest giving up just three hits while walking one and striking out one. Abby Rhee had two hits. Giana Lacendra (5-14) suffered the pitching loss for UMass-Lowell, as their season ends with a record of 17-29.
Maine (12-36) advances to day two, and will play at 4 p.m. on Thursday against an opponent to be determined in another elimination game. Here is the first day of results and the schedule for Thursday-
Game 1- #4 Bryant 10, #5 UMass-Lowell 2 (6 innings- mercy rule)
Game 2- #3 Albany 7, #6 Maine 3
Game 3- #6 Maine 3, #5 UMass-Lowell 0
Thursday, May 8th
Game 4- #1 Binghamton vs #4 Bryant- 11 a.m.
Game 5- #2 UMBC vs #3 Albany- 1:30 p.m.
Game 6- TBD vs #6 Maine- 4 p.m. (elimination game)
