|
Softball Drops Series Finale to Albany on Sunday
April 13, 2008
ALBANY, N.Y. - The University of Maine softball team dropped its series finale at Albany on Sunday by a count of 10-9. The Great Danes scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to pull off the come-from-behind win at Albany Field in Albany, N.Y. The Black Bears dipped to 5-34 overall and 5-6 in America East, while Albany improved to 20-11 and 8-1 in the league. Maine held a 9-6 advantage entering the bottom of the seventh inning, but Albany pushed across four runs in the last half inning of the game to earn the win. The big play of the frame was a two-run double by Amber Maisonet, which tied the game at 9-9. Andrianna Walraven completed the rally a batter later as she singled home Maisonet for the winning run. The start of the game was delayed 45 minutes due to rain, but following the delay the bats came alive for both teams. Maine and Albany combined for 26 hits (14 for Albany, 12 for Maine). Melinda Corssino paced Maine with three hits, while Ashley Waters and Alexis Souhlaris had two hits apiece. Souhlaris blasted a home run, her seventh of the season, and Waters smacked a double. Waters also drove in three runs on the day to raise her team-leading total to 25.
Souhlaris led off the game by blasting a solo homer to center field to put Maine up 1-0. The Black Bears then exploded for seven runs in the third to build an 8-0 advantage. Waters and Kirstin Allen each laced two-run doubles in the frame to highlight the offensive explosion. However, Albany started its rally with four runs in the bottom half of the inning, including a two-run double by Walraven, to pull within 8-4.
Albany scored two more times the following inning to cut into the deficit and only trail by two runs at 8-6. Maine added some cushion to its lead in the sixth as Waters stroked a base hit to right field, which brought home Corssino, who singled earlier in the frame. Jenna Balent got the start in the pitching circle and went just 3.1 innings, yielding six runs on eight hits. Christine McGivney came on in relief in the fourth inning and worked 2.2 innings before suffering the loss. The sophomore hurler allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Maine returns to action on Wednesday when it plays host to Colby College at 4 p.m., at Mike Kessock Field in Orono. Admission is free for all home games played at Kessock Field. |
