Vestal, N.Y. – The University of Maine softball team dropped its second game of the America East Championships by a final of 8-2 to UAlbany on Friday at the Binghamton Softball Complex.
 
Maine will take on the winner of the Binghamton and Stony Brook game. First pitch for the Black Bears' next game on Friday is set for approximately 4 p.m.
 
Alyssa Derrick led the offensive effort for Maine, belting her America East leading 14^th home run of the season. Derrick finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run.
 
UAlbany struck first with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third. A hit by pitch and a pair of singles loaded the bases for the Great Danes. Maine hurler Molly Flowers picked up a big strikeout but with two away in the inning, Sarah Petzold's bouncer was mishandled at second. The Great Danes plated a pair on the play to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Maine looked to get something going in the fourth. Alyssa Derrick ripped a lead-off single to third and advanced to second after Kristen Niland dropped a hit into short left field. However, the runners would be stranded as UAlbany held on to its 2-0 advantage.
 
The Danes added to their lead with three runs in the fifth. The first two were able to reach in the inning before advancing to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. Petzhold continued to do damage, driving a two-RBI double to the gap in right center. Petzhold stole third before scoring on a single to left by Kelly Barkevich. 
 
UAlbany kept charging, adding three more to its lead in the sixth. With two away in the inning, Liz Snow, who was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, came all the way around from first to score on Donna Conrad's triple down the line in right. Chelsea Henige's second home run of the season, a two-run shot, extended the lead to 8-0.
 
There was no quit in the Black Bears. Lennon started the sixth with a sharp double down the line in left before coming around to score on Derrick's opposite field, two-run shot. The home run was Derrick's conference leading 14^th of the season.
 
Maine looked to get something going in the seventh as Rachel Carlson shot a single the other way in left. Carlson advanced to second when Chloe Douglass reached on an error but the Black Bears were unable to cut into the lead, dropping the contest by an 8-2 final.
 
Molly Flowers took the loss for Maine after giving up eight runs, six earned, on nine hits with three strikeouts. Nikki Misner came on in relief to work 1.1 innings of no-hit, shutout ball.
 
-UMaine-