Jenna Balent (Conifer, CO) was a force on the mound for the Black Bears over the weekend, helping lead the team to a three-game sweep of Binghamton. The junior pitcher followed a complete game shutout performance on Saturday by allowing just three hits while picking up six strikeouts and only two walks in seven innings of work on Sunday against the Bearcats.

The University of Maine softball team completed a three-game sweep of Binghamton this weekend with a 7-1 triumph in Sunday's series finale at East Gym Field in Vestal, N.Y. Maine improved to 5-29 overall, but more importantly moved to 5-1 in America East play.

Jenna Balent got the start in the pitching circle for Maine and turned in her second complete-game victory in as many days. The junior hurler yielded one unearned run on just three hits with six strikeouts and only two walks in seven innings of work. It followed her complete-game, five-inning performance on Saturday in Maine's 12-3 victory over the Bearcats.

Whitney Spangler, Ashley Waters and Kristen Calvetti each stroked a pair of hits in the contest, including a home run from Waters. Terren Hall and Melinda Corssino also homered for Maine, which already has 24 home runs this season after hitting just 19 all of last season. Maine stands just eight home runs shy of tying the school record for most blasts in a season. The mark of 32 was set by the 2000 Black Bears. This year's Maine squad has 16 regular season contests remaining to achieve the feat. Waters and Hall each lead the team in homers with six apiece, while Hall leads the squad with 20 runs batted in.

Maine scored a pair of runs in each of the first two innings to build an early 4-0 advantage. The Black Bears put their first two runs up on the board with a Calvetti two-run single, bringing home Hall and Waters. Both players reached base earlier in the frame on a fielder's choice. Spangler and Waters each stroked RBI singles in the second frame to stake Maine to the four-run cushion.

Binghamton scratched out a run in the fourth, but Maine rallied with three runs in the fifth to cap the scoring. Waters and Hall led off the frame with back-to-back solo homers, while Corssino followed later in the inning with a solo blast of her own.

For the weekend, Maine out-scored the Bearcats by a total of 27-4. In Sunday's contest, the Black Bears pounded out 10 hits to Binghamton's three.

The Black Bears are now 8-2 in their last 10 America East games dating back to last season. Maine has scored at least seven runs in seven of its last eight conference wins, including all five victories this season.

Maine returns to action Wednesday when the Black Bears travel to face Boston University in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Both teams will enter the contest with identical 5-1 conference records.

Mark Ostrander (Hopkins, MA) put up big numbers over the weekend, helping the Black Bears pick up two wins over New Jersey Tech. In 10 plate appearances Ostrander collected 6 hits, which included two doubles, a triple and a homerun for a total of four runs-batted-in and five runs scored.

The University of Maine baseball team cruised past NJIT 19-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Winkin Complex on the campus of Husson College in Bangor, Maine. Matt Howard (Weston, Mass.) hit two home runs and drove in four in the game. Maine improves to 9-13-1 on the season with the victory. The Black Bears allowed just three hits in the game, and tied the school record for doubles in a game with seven.

Maine struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Myckie Lugbauer (Mahopac, N.Y.) drew a walk and Mark Ostrander (Hopkinton, Mass.) and Tony Patane (New Milford, Conn.) followed with bunt singles to load the bases. Jarrett Lukas (Old Town, Maine) drove home the first run when he reached on an error. Maine's second run crossed the plate when Joe Mercurio (Brewster, N.Y.) drew a bases loaded walk.

Matt Howard gave the Black Bears a 3-0 lead when he hit his second home run of the season high over the left field fence in the bottom of the third inning. Ostrander made it a 4-0 Maine lead when he doubled to right center field and scored when Patane singled to center field. Patane scored when Lukas singled to center field.

The Black Bears added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Matt Howard was hit by a pitch and scored when Curt Smith (Willemstad, Curacao) had a sacrifice fly. Lugbauer, who walked, scored when Tony Patane singled to center field.

Lukas tripled in the bottom of the fifth inning and scored when Mercurio singled to right field. Danny Menendez (Miami, Fla.) drew a walk and Howard followed with a home run that soared over the right field fence. Smith was hit by a pitch and scored when Lugbauer doubled to center field. Ostrander followed and ripped a double off the left field fence plating Lugbauer with the 13th run of the game. Billy Cather (Worcester, Mass.) then doubled down the left field line and Ostrander scored. Lukas then followed with a single to center field. Mercurio then doubled to center field sending home Cather for the eighth run of the inning. The Black Bears hit four doubles, a triple and a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Black Bears added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Smith singled to center field and Lugbauer reached on a fielder's choice. Both runners scored when Patane doubled to center field. The double was the sixth of the game for Maine, one shy of tying the school record for doubles in a game. Maine has had seven doubles in a game four times, the last time in 2003 against Long Island University.

Maine tied the school record for doubles in a game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Mercurio walked and scored when Kevin Jackson (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) doubled to right center field.

Maine scored a lone run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Tony Patane reached on a fielder's choice and Tavis Hasenfus (Winthrop, Maine) walked. Lukas then singled to load the bases. Menendez reached on catcher's interference, driving home Patane for the 19th run of the game.

Matt Jebb (Toronto, Ontario) was outstanding for Maine as he went six innings and allowed just two hits. He struck out eight batters in the game and improves to 2-1 on the season. Jimmy Cox (Bangor, Maine) went one inning and did not allow a hit, striking out one. Justin Latta (Lubbock, Texas) pitched the top of the eighth and struck out two. Alejandro Balsinde (Miami, Fla.) pitched the ninth inning for the Black Bears and struck out a pair of batters.

Bobby Wyrwa went 4.1 innings for NJIT and picks up the loss for the Highlanders. He falls to 0-5 on the season.

Several Black Bears had some pretty impressive numbers on the afternoon. Ostrander, Patane and Lukas each finished with four hits, while Lugbauer scored four runs. Howard and Patane each drove in four runs. Every Maine starter scored at least one run and drove in one run.

The Black Bears return to action on Friday, April 11 when they host Albany at 4 p.m.