Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine softball team (16-21, 10-4 America East) look to remain undefeated at home when it hosts UAlbany (21-15, 6-7 AE) on Senior Weekend at Kessock Field. The series, a rematch of last year's America East title game, will begin with a doubleheader on Friday at noon before closing out with a single game at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Prior to Friday's doubleheader, Maine will honor its six seniors for their hard work and dedication to UMaine over their careers.
A LOOK AT MAINE:
The Black Bears, who have won nine of its last 10 at home dating back to last season, are coming off a tough weekend in which they were swept in a three-game series at Binghamton. With the sweep, Binghamton overtook Maine for first place in the America East standings. Prior to the weekend series at Binghamton, Maine had strung together an impressive seven-game win streak.
Rachel Carlson, who has reached base safely in 18-straight games, leads the Black Bears with a .368 mark at the plate. Carlson, who ranks fifth among America East leaders in average, has also posted team-highs in hits (43) and stolen bases (12) to go along with 22 runs. Maine's centerfielder ranks fourth in the league with a .436 on-base percentage
Rachel Harvey, who had her 13 game hit streak snapped at Binghamton, enters with a .319 mark on 37 hits with 20 RBI, 17 runs and a pair of home runs.
Meghan Royle checks in with a .296 average (32-108) with three triples and three home runs to go along with 16 RBI and 10 runs.
Alyssa Derrick is the power threat for Maine. Derrick, hitting .266, leads the league with 12 home runs and leads Maine at 29 RBI while adding 17 runs. Derrick ranks fifth in the league with a .606 slugging percentage.
Erika Leonard is Maine's leader in runs (23) and is tied for second on the team with 20 RBIs out of the lead-off hole while hitting .243 with 18 walks and seven stolen bases.
In the circle, Maine is paced by a trio of hurlers who each have tallied over 20 appearances.
Erin Bogdanovich, the reigning America East Pitcher of the Year, is 5-10 with a 4.63 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 90.2 innings.
Molly Flowers is Maine's leader in wins at 6-8 to go along with a 4.71 ERA while fanning 58 in 71.1 innings of work.
Annie Kennedy checks in at 5-3 with a pair of saves. Kennedy is posting a 4.05 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 67.1 innings.
As a team, Maine is hitting .262 while posting a 4.63 team ERA and a .935 fielding percentage. Maine is third in the league with 26 home runs.
A LOOK AT ALBANY:
The Great Danes, enter play fifth in the America East standings, have won four of their last five after a three-game sweep of Hartford last weekend. Albany outscored Hartford 21-6 in the series as sophomore Celeste Verdolivo earned America East Pitcher of the Week accolades. Verdolivo threw four shutout innings, allowing just two hits in a win over the Hawks while striking out five.
Liz Snow, a three-time America East Player of the Week, leads the offense as she ranks second in the league at .418. Snow's impressive .959 slugging percentage is tops among America East leaders while she ranks second with 11 home runs and is also second with 40 RBI to go along with a league-leading .525 on-base percentage. Chelsea Henige enters action at .363 with 14 runs and 28 RBI while Donna Conrad is adding a .320 mark with 22 runs and 26 RBI. Aliyah Wade has been a threat on the bags, leading Albany with 21 stolen bases to go along with a .315 mark and a team-leading 34 runs. Wade's totals in stolen bases and runs are both America East highs.
Devin Durando features a 3.76 ERA to go along with a 5-3 record and 39 strikeouts in 54.0 innings in the circle this season for the Great Danes. Verdolivo is Albany's leader in strikeouts (68) and checks in a 6-7 with a 3.84 ERA over 74.2 innings. Bailey Turner is the team's leader in wins (7-5) with a 3.92 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 85.2 innings.
THE SERIES:
Maine and Albany have split the last 10 games in the series; three of which came in the postseason. The Black Bears won all three of those postseason meetings, including a 14-1 victory in last year's America East Championship game. Maine has struggled at home against Albany as the Great Danes have won nine of its last 10 outings in Orono.
-UMaine-
