Orono, Maine --
Alyssa Derrick and
Erika Leonard each recorded 3-run home runs while
Erin Bogdanovich earned her second win of the weekend in the circle as Maine earned the weekend sweep of Stony Brook with an 8-0 win in 5-innings on Sunday afternoon. The win moves Maine to 7-1 and into sole possession of first place in the America East standings.
Derrick finished the weekend with an impressive seven hits as she tallied her ninth home run of the spring in the victory. Leonard added a 3-run shot and scored a pair of runs in a 1-for-2 showing while
Felicia Lennon drove in Maine's final two runs.
Bogdanovich was impressive in the circle as she improves to 4-8 with a season-high seven strikeout performance in her first complete game shutout victory of the season. The lefty scattered just four hits and walked a pair while earning her second win of the weekend.
The offense started early for the Black Bears as they were able to plate three runs in the bottom of the first. Leonard and Harvey each worked walks before Derrick stepped in and crushed an opposite field homer over the wall in right center.
Maine exploded for five runs in the home half of the second. Royle and Decker began the rally with back-to-back singles. Leonard won a lengthy battle at the plate as she sent a rocket over the wall in left for her third home run of the season to give Maine a 6-0 edge. The inning continued with a walk from
Rachel Carlson followed by a Harvey single. The duo advanced on a wild pitch before Lennon sent a laser off the shortstop's glove. The ricochet allowed both runners to score on the double, increasing Maine's lead to 8-0 after two innings.
Bogdanovich and the defense cruised through the next three innings as Maine held on for the 8-0, run-rule shortened victory in five innings.
Maine is back at it with a midweek game on Wednesday, April 19 at Holy Cross with first pitch set for 5 p.m. The Black Bears will then dive back into league play with a three-game set at UMBC beginning with a single game on Friday, April 21 at 3 p.m.
-UMaine-
