PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The University of Maine softball team (1-4) dropped its final two games at the Grand Canyon University Invitational on Sunday afternoon. The Black Bears fell in game one to Grand Canyon University (GCU) by a score of 9-3 before take a 5-3 loss to Creighton.
Rachel Harvey and
Meghan Royle each notched their first home runs of the year in game one of the day. Harvey ended the day with three hits to lead the offense while Royle
Rachel Carlson and
Erika Leonard, who drove in a pair in game two, each ended the day with two hits.
In game one, Maine again ran into trouble with a single bad inning as it surrendered five runs to GCU in the bottom of the fifth.
The Lopes jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a single run in the bottom of the third before Maine answered with a pair in the fourth.
Maddie Decker reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch before being lifted for a pinch runner in
Laurine German. Harvey's homer brought in German, putting the Black Bears up 2-1.
GCU tacked on five runs in the fifth, keyed by a three-run triple from Wartman, as the Lopes led 6-2 after five complete. GCU added on three more runs in the home half of the sixth to building a 9-2 advantage heading into the final inning.
Maine was able to get one back in the seventh on Royle's solo blast but it failed to close the gap further, falling by a final of 9-3. Leonard and
Rachel Carlson each also added hits for the Black Bears in game one.
Annie Kennedy took the loss in game one after giving up six runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Molly Flowers tossed 1.2 innings in relief, surrendering three runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts.
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In game two, Maine gave up four runs to Creighton in the first two innings and could not overcome the early deficit, falling by a final of 5-3.
Harvey went 2-for-4 with a run in game two while Leonard added a two-run double. Flowers picked up the loss, giving up four runs on five hits with three strikeouts and five walks.
Erin Bogdanovich came on in relief, giving up one run on two hits over the final 2.1 innings.
A three-run homer by Sam Dellinger in the top of the first dug an early hole for the Black Bears. Creighton added a run in the home half of the second as it led 4-0 after two.
Maine began its charge back when Royle's single through the left side brought in Harvey.
However, the Blue Jays would answer right back on Jen Daro's solo blast in the fifth.
Maine continued to chip away, adding two runs in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-3.
Kristen Niland worked a one out walk and was subbed for pinch runner
Chloe Douglass. Douglass advanced to second on a two out walk by German before Leonard followed with a double to left, scoring a pair.
However, Maine could not get any closer, falling by a score of 5-3 to the Blue Jays.
The Black Bears are back in action on Wednesday, March 8 when they take on Arizona State at 8 PM EST.
-UMaine-
