Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine softball team looks to build on its current 5-game win streak when it travels to UMass Lowell for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 13.
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
A LOOK AT MAINE:
Rachel Carlson enters play with a 3-game hit streak and leads Maine with a .354 mark at the plate. Maine's centerfielder began her conference action with a six hit showing at Hartford and is tops among the Black Bears with 28 hits on the year. Carlson's average is good for sixth in the league while her nine stolen bases leads the team.
Rachel Harvey, carrying a team-high four game hit streak, at a terrific weekend at Hartford. In Maine's conference opening weekend, Harvey hit .545 with four RBI, three runs and a double. Overall, Harvey checks in at .320 with 10 runs scored and 10 RBI.
Erika Leonard leads Maine with 16 runs scored while adding 14 RBI, four doubles a pair of home runs and a .260 mark at the dish.
Alyssa Derrick is tied for second in the league with seven home runs while her 17 RBI leads the Black Bears.
Annie Kennedy picked up a pair of wins in the circle at Hartford and currently features a team-leading 4.94 ERA as she is 3-3 with 24 strikeouts over 51.0 innings.
Molly Flowers, who went the distance in a win at Hartford, leads Maine with 35 strikeouts. Flowers is 3-7 with a 6.12 ERA in 48.0 innings.
Erin Bogdanovich checks in at 2-7 with a 6.04 and 32 strikeouts in 51.0 innings of work.
A LOOK AT UMASS LOWELL:
The River Hawks, who were picked to finish tied for fifth in the America East preseason poll, have begun conference play at 4-1. UMass Lowell started league action with a doubleheader sweep of Hartford before taking two of three from UAlbany last weekend. Overall, the River Hawks are 12-15 and feature the league's second highest team average at .289.
Individually, UMass Lowell is led offensively by Courtney Cashman who ranks second among America East leaders with a .422 average to go along with a .644 slugging percentage. Cashman, who's 38 hits are third best in the league, is adding nine doubles, 20 runs and 17 RBI. Madison Alcorn is hitting .356 wih 11 runs and 11 RBI while Tori Alcorn is adding a .345 mark and leads the River Hawks with 21 runs scored. Sydney Barker is a significant power threat for UMass Lowell with team-highs in home runs (6) and RBIs (24).
In the circle, Kaysee Talcik checks in a 5-7 with a 3.76 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 82.0 innings. Talcik has appeared in 16 games with 14 starts. Lauren Ramirez is 4-7 with a 4.51 ERA and leads the team with 54 strikeouts in 71.1 innings of work. Sydney Wash has made nine appearances and is 3-1 on the year.
ALL-TIME SERIES:
The Black Bears are 8-2 all-time against UMass Lowell and have won each of the last eight meetings. Maine has not allowed a run in the series over the past 20 innings, shutting out UMass Lowell in each of the three meetings last year. Maine, which run-ruled the River Hawks in two out of the last three meetings, won by scores of 8-0, 6-0 and 13-0 a year ago. Maine also swept its last road trip to UMass Lowell.
Erika Leonard has hit safely in all six of her games against the River Hawks. In last year's series, Leonard went 6-for-9 with three runs and two RBI against UMass Lowell.
ON-DECK:
Maine continues America East action with its home opener against Stony Brook. The Black Bears will host Stony Brook beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15 at noon. The teams will close the series on Sunday, April 16 at 11 a.m. All games will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
-UMaine-
