Box Score MISSOULA, Mt. -- The University of Maine softball team posted four runs in the top of the second and went on to a 7-4 victory over Montana on Friday evening. Rachel Carlson led the way, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.

Annie Kennedy picked up her first win of the season, working the complete game while giving up four runs on eight hits with one strikeout.

Maine got started early with four runs in the top of the second. Tinsman worked a leadoff walk before singles from Laurine German and Sarah Coyne loaded the bases. Erika Leonard's sacrifice fly to center brought in Tinsman and German. Carlson followed with a triple to center, bringing in Coyne. Carlson scored the fourth run of the inning for the Black Bears when she came in on an illegal pitch.

Montana cut the Maine lead in half with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.

The Black Bears regained a five run league, plating three in the top of the fourth; all with two outs in the inning. Leonard began the inning with a walk before stealing second. Carlson drove in her second run of the game with a single to center. Alyssa Derrick's double to right drove in Carlson, giving Maine a 6-2 lead. Rachel Harvey followed with a single to center, plating Derrick with Maine's seventh run of the game.

Montana added single runs in the fifth and sixth but Kennedy and the Maine defense shut the door in the seventh, maintaining a 7-4 win.

Maine is back in doubleheader action tomorrow beginning with another contest against Seattle University at 1 p.m. EST.

-UMaine-