The University of Maine softball team split an America East doubleheader with Bryant University at the Pierre & Catherine Labat Softball Complex in Orono on Friday afternoon.
The Bulldogs won the opening game by mercy in five innings 12-0. Abby Rhee and Bailey Snowberger had two hits each for the Black Bears. Maine bounced back to take the second contest 5-2 behind a complete game in the circle by Madison Simmerman. Gabby Papushka provided the game winning hit with a two-run homerun in the third inning. Simmerman (5-11) allowed just one earned run on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Maine is now 11-34 overall and 3-16 in America East, while Bryant is 17-30 and 9-10 respectively. The teams play the regular season finale on Saturday at 12 p.m. All six conference teams make it into the league playoffs, which start next week at Binghamton in Vestal, New York.
