W. HARTFORD, Conn. -- The University of Maine softball team ran its win streak over Hartford to 10-straight after picking up victories of 7-6 and 6-2 against the Hawks on Saturday afternoon.
Alyssa Derrick had a terrific day at the plate, recording four hits with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.
Laurine German belted her first career home run and finished the day with three hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
In game one, the Black Bears scored two runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and held on to a 7-6 victory. Derrick, German and
Rachel Carlson each tallied a pair of hits to lead the offense. Maine finished with nine hits in the game.
Annie Kennedy picked up her second win of the year, going 2.0 innings in relief and surrendering three runs on four hits with a strikeout.
Erin Bogdanovich went 5.0 innings in the start while giving up three runs, two earned, on three hits with four strikeouts.
Hartford, playing as the visitor due to the game relocation, started the scoring in game one with a run in the top of the first.
Maine tied the game with a single run in the bottom of the third.
Sarah Coyne reached on a one-out fielder's choice and stole second to move herself into scoring position. Coyne advanced to third on a wild pitch before coming in to score when Carlson reached on an error.
Hartford regained the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth.
Maine answer, knotting the score once again with a pair in the bottom of the fourth. Derrick began the rally by reaching on an error before
Maddie Decker's single to right put runners on first and second. Maine loaded up the bases when
Kristen Niland was hit by a pitch. German worked a bases loaded walk, bringing in Derrick. Pinch runner
Chloe Douglass came in to tie the game on
Maddie Moore's sacrifice fly to left.
The Black Bears grabbed their first lead of the game with two more runs in the fifth. Carlson reached with a lead-off bunt single and took second before coming in to score on Harvey's single to center. Derrick's single moved Harvey to second. Harvey advanced again when Derrick was caught stealing before coming in to score Maine's fifth run on a wild pitch.
Maine tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. German began the rally with a one out single to left before stealing second and reaching third on
Faythe Goins' single through the left side. German later scored on a wild pitch. Pinch runner
Emily Gilmore moved over to third on a wild pitch and later scored the seventh run of the day on Carlson's two-out single to the gap in left center.
The two-out run in the seventh for Maine would prove to be important. Hartford grabbed one more run in the top of the seventh but were unable to plate a seventh as Maine earned a 7-6 victory.
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In game two, Maine pushed across four runs in the bottom of the first before cruising to a 6-2 victory. German's solo shot and Derrick's three-run home run powered the offense which outhit Hartford, 8-4.
Flowers was solid in her start to earn her third win of the season. The junior went the distance in the victory, giving up two runs, one earned, while scattering four hits and fanning eight.
For the second-straight game, Hartford jumped out to an early lead with a single run in the top of the first.
Maine answered, pushing across four runs in the bottom of the opening frame. German added to her career day with her first collegiate home run, a solo shot to left. Leonard followed with a walk and advanced to second on Harvey's single through the left side. Derrick blasted her seventh home run of the season, an opposite field drive to right, giving Maine an early 4-1 lead.
Hartford cut the lead in half with a single run in the top of the third.
Maine again had the answer, plating a pair of runs in the third. Leonard worked a walk to begin the rally. Harvey followed with a single before advancing on an error which allowed Leonard to come around to score. Derrick drove in her fourth run of the day when her single up the middle plated Harvey.
Flowers and the defense were flawless over the final four innings as the Black Bears held on for a 6-2 victory.
Maine goes for the series sweep on Sunday at noon
-UMaine-
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