University of Maine
Husson
Kelley, Black Bears Shutout Husson 9-0
4/3/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BANGOR, Maine -- Jennifer Eberhardt (Glendale, Ariz.) and Margaret Hilton (Lyndonville, Vt.) each homered while senior Ashley Kelley (Hermon, Maine) picked up the shutout in the circle as the Black Bears scored a 9-0 win in five-innings over neighboring Husson University. EmJ Fogel (Vienna, Va.) chipped in with a 3-for-4 day while scoring three runs and driving in another while Jean Stevens (Albany, Ore.) went 1-for-2 with two RBI and one run scored in Maine's seventh win on the season.
The Black Bears wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Fogel led off the game with a single up the middle before Dagmar Ralphs (O'Fallon, Ill.) moved Fogel up to second with a sac-bunt. Eberhardt then belted her first homer of the spring over the left center field fence.
Maine tacked on three runs in the top of the second to take a 5-0 lead. With one away in the inning, Hilton began the rally as she ripped a homer, the first of her career, to center field. After the Eagles recorded another out, Jessica Burk (Warrenton, Va.) kick started another Maine rally by reaching on an error. Fogel followed with a single up the middle, advancing Burk to second. Both runners would move up a base on a passed ball before Ralphs reached on a Husson throwing error that allowed both Fogel and Burk to score two more Black Bear runs.
After Kelley struck out the side in the bottom of the second, the Black Bears added another run in the top of the third. Stevens worked a lead off walk before advancing to second on a passed ball before moving up to third on a dropped third strike. Stevens scored the Black Bears' sixth run of the day after taking advantage of a throwing error by the Eagle's catcher.
Maine's offense pushed across two more runs in the top of the fourth to bring the Maine lead to 8-0. Fogel again started the rally by reaching on a walk before moving up to second on a ground out by Ralphs. The freshman moved up to third on a wild pitch. Eberhardt then walked and advanced to second on a defensive indifference play. Stevens then ripped a double off the right field fence that plated Fogel and Eberhardt.
With one away in the top of the fourth, Husson's Heidi Shaw dropped a single into shallow right field, breaking up Kelley's perfect game bid. Another Eagle hit, this time by Victoria Overlock, gave the Eagles runners on first and second with one out. However, Kelley would battle back getting the next Husson hitter to line out before striking out the final batter of the inning.
Maine added its ninth run of the day in the top of the fifth when Fogel slapped a two out single into right field, scoring Nikki Byron (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) from third who had begun the inning with a single to center.
Kelley and the Maine defense shut down the Eagles in the home half of the fifth to lock up the 9-0 five-inning run rule victory.
Kelley moves to 3-10 on the season in the circle for the Black Bears as the senior starter went five innings while giving up no runs and just three hits with no walks while fanning nine.
Husson starter Kody Lyon takes the loss and falls to 5-2 on the year after going three innings and giving up six runs, three earned, on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
The Black Bears return to action on Saturday when they welcome Boston University to Orono for a doubleheader beginning at 12 PM.
-U-M-
