The Maine baseball and softball teams both dropped their America East openers on Friday afternoon.
In Lowell, Massachusetts- The Black Bears softball team had an 11-3 lead in the middle of the sixth inning and 11-6 into the Riverhawks last at bat, but the hosts would tie it with five runs in the seventh and then would win it with a walkoff hit in the eighth.
Francesca Guerrera led Maine with three hits and five RBI, while Kaelyn Larkin hit two solo homeruns. Hannah Hipwell was charged with the pitching loss in the circle in relief. Maine (7-18, 0-1 America East) and UMass-Lowell (10-13, 1-0) wrap up their series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
In Baltimore, Maryland- Freshman Troy Carpenter hit a third inning grandslam for the Black Bears baseball team to take a 4-0 lead, but the Retrievers rallied back getting a game winning two-run homer by Ehi Okojie in the seventh to claim a 7-5 victory. Jason Krieger started on the mound for Maine and got a no-decision, allowing five runs on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Thomas Stabley was tagged with the loss in relief. Maine (2-18, 0-1 America East) and UMBC (8-8, 1-0) play single games on Saturday and Sunday to wrap up the series.
Photos of Francesca Guerrera and Troy Carpenter are courtesy of UMaine Athletics
