Baltimore, Md. -- Faythe Goins' three-run homer in the top of the fourth helped lead the University of Maine softball team to a 4-1 victory in its series opener at UMBC on Friday afternoon. The win, Maine's fifth in a row, improves the Black Bears to 8-1 in America East play.

Erin Bogdanovich moved past a first inning run and went on to pick up the complete game victory, improving to 5-8 on the season after scattering six hits and striking out five.

UMBC began the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the first on Lesko's solo home run to left.

Maine broke through with a four-run top of the fourth. Rachel Harvey and Alyssa Derrick started the inning with back-to-back singles before Felicia Lennon reached on a fielder's choice. Later in the inning, Maddie Moore reached on a fielder's choice as Harvey was erased at the plate. However, Lennon would come in to tie the game after a throwing error on the play. Goins followed, digging in as a pinch hitter before blasting her second pinch-hit home run of the year over the wall in right center. Goins' blast brought in three as Maine carried a 4-1 advantage into the bottom of the fourth.

Bogdanovich and the defense shut the door the rest of the way as Maine earned its 14th win of the year, 4-1.

The Black Bears close the weekend series at UMBC with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

-UMaine-