ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine softball team continues its America East slate with a weekend series against UMBC at Kessock Field. The Black Bears open the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon before hosting UMBC in the single game series finale on Sunday at 11 a.m.
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SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS: (14-16, 5-2 America East)
The Black Bears enter the weekend fresh off Wednesday's home opening doubleheader split with UMass Lowell. The River Hawks, who currently sit atop the America East standings, took game one by a final of 1-0 in eight innings before the Black Bears captured game two, 3-0. Freshman
Kyleigh O'Donnell picked up her fourth win of the season in the circle for Maine after striking out a career-high 12 batters in the two-hit shutout. Maine struck for three runs in the bottom of the sixth, behind RBIs from
Maddie Decker,
Erika Leonard and
Alyssa Derrick.
Offensively,
Rachel Carlson continues to lead the Black Bears with a .340 mark. Carlson currently leads the league in total hits (34) while her 17 runs check in second among league leaders. Carlson's team-high .416 on-base percentage has been helped by her 12 walks while she has reached base safely in each of her last six games. Carlson's nine multi-hit games leads the team as she has recorded five three-hit performances thus far.
Maddie Decker is hitting .293 and leads the league with 20 RBIs. Decker's three home runs are tied for the team lead while she ranks second in the America East with 13 walks. Decker has posted five multi-RBI games, twice knocking in three runs in a single outing.
Laurine German is adding a .270 average with 13 runs, six RBIs and a team-high five stolen bases.
Erika Leonard, hitting .264 overall, has turned it on in league play. Leonard is boasting a .360 mark at the plate in conference play with nine hits, five runs and a pair of RBIs to go along with a .400 slugging percentage.
Kristen Niland is hitting .232 with a team-best five doubles while
Alyssa Derrick has posted three home runs and 18 RBIs.
Annie Kennedy leads the America East with a 1.58 ERA to go along with her 6-4 mark. Kennedy's control has been impressive this season as she's giving up just 10 walks in 79.2 innings. Her 0.88 walks allowed per seven innings is 10th in the nation while her 5.70 strikeout to walk ratio is 23rd nationally and tops in the America East. Kennedy has fanned 57 hitters in 22 appearances.
Kyleigh O'Donnell, fresh off a 12 strikeout performance, is 4-6 on the year with a 4.05 ERA. O'Donnell has fanned 46 opposing batters in 55.1 innings.
Lilly Volk is 1-1 and checks in with a 3.34 ERA in 29.1 innings while
Molly Flowers has two wins and 34 strikeouts in 33.0 innings.
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS: (8-24, 3-5)
UMBC enters the weekend coming off a doubleheader split against Stony Brook on Wednesday. The Retrievers took game one by a 9-7 final before falling in the nightcap, 12-2, in five innings. Sophomore shortstop Maddie Daigneau leads the Retrievers with a .301 average with team-highs in hits (31) and runs (20). Senior outfielder Tori Alexander is hitting .281 with 20 runs and a team-best 13 stolen bases. Carly Lesko provides a power threat for the Retrievers, leading the way with three home runs and 15 RBIs.
As a staff, UMBC's pitchers have given up 160 earned runs and check in with a 5.40 team ERA. Kim Puccio leads the staff at 7-14 with a 3.96 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 118.1 innings to go along with 10 complete games. Valerie Hammett is 1-9 with a 7.67 ERA in 55.2 innings while Brianna Baker checks in at 0-1 with a 7.14 mark in 33.1 innings of work.
THE SERIES:
Maine is 26-15 all-time against UMBC dating back to 2003. At home, Maine checks in with a 13-8 mark against the Retrievers, including a 6-3 showing in the last nine played at Kessock Field. Last season, Maine swept a two-game series at UMBC. In the Retrievers' last visit to Maine in 2016, Maine took two of three.
-UMaine-
