ORONO, Maine -- The top two teams in the America East softball standings meet Tuesday afternoon in Lowell when the University of Maine travels to take on the River Hawks at 3 p.m.
 

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UMass Lowell currently sits atop the league standings with a 9-2 mark in conference play while the Black Bears enter in second place at 7-2 in league action. Each team also carries a win streak into the Tuesday afternoon meeting as the Black Bears are winners of two straight while UMass Lowell is coming off a three-game weekend sweep over Binghamton. The Black Bears are 11-4 all-time against UMass Lowell.

Earlier this season, the team's split a doubleheader in Orono. UMass Lowell squeezed past Maine in game one, winning 1-0 in eight innings, before the Black Bears took game two by a 3-0 final. Laurine German tallied two hits and scored a run in the doubleheader while Erika Leonard, Maddie Decker and Alyssa Derrick each scored RBIs. Kyleigh O'Donnell picked up the shutout victory in the circle in game two, recording a career-high 12 strikeouts while allowing just two hits over 7.0 innings. Annie Kennedy went the distance in the extra inning defeat, giving up just one run while scattering nine hits and fanning one.

SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS: (18-18, 7-2 America East)
Maine will be stepping back into conference action after playing four straight non-conference contests. The Black Bears are coming off a Saturday doubleheader sweep of Sacred Heart with two exciting walk-off victories. Derrick's two-run, opposite field walk-off home run gave Maine a 2-0 victory in the eighth inning of game one before Shanna Scribner came around to score on a throwing error, lifting Maine to a 1-0, eighth inning victory in the finale. The Black Bears have won three-straight conference game, dating back to a doubleheader sweep of UMBC and their April 11 victory over UMass Lowell. The Black Bear pitching staff has posted an impressive 1.07 ERA against league opponents.

Carlson continues to lead the Black Bears offensively as she checks in seventh in the league with a .355 average. Carlson is the league's current runner-up with 43 hits while her 21 runs place her fourth among league leaders. Carlson, who has a league-high four triples, has recorded 10 hits in league play and leads the Black Bears with a .357 average against conference opponents. Her 12 multi-hit games, including seven three-hit performances, are a team best. Catcher Maddie Decker is adding a .277 mark and has driven in 21 runs while leading the team with 15 walks. Laurine German, who has reached base safely in each of her last eight outings, is hitting .276 with 16 runs and five stolen bases. Erika Leonard is hitting .333 in conference play, while checking in at .263 overall with 17 runs and 10 RBI. Alyssa Derrick leads the Black Bears, and ranks fourth in the league, with five home runs. Her 25 RBIs are a team-high and second best in the conference.

Annie Kennedy has not given up an earned run over her last 20.1 innings while checking in at 9-4 with 75 strikeouts and just 11 walks over 99.2 innings. Kennedy is posting a league-low 1.26 ERA, 25th best in the nation, while she checks in sixth in the nation with 0.77 walks allowed per seven innings. Kennedy is also the league-leader in strikeout-to-walk ratio, ranking 14th nationally at 6.82 per game. Kennedy is 4-1 in league action, posting a 1.19 ERA with 23 strikeouts and just five walks over 35.1 innings against America East foes. Freshman Kyleigh O'Donnell has put together an impressive stretch of recent success. O'Donnell, coming off an eight inning shutout victory, is undefeated over her last four outings, picking up three wins over the span. O'Donnell is 5-6 on the year with a 3.29 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 68.0 innings of work. In conference play, O'Donnell is 2-1 with a 1.17 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 24.0 innings.

SCOUTING UMASS LOWELL: (15-22, 9-2 America East)
Courtney Cashman leads the River Hawks with a .355 average, good for fifth best among America East leaders. Cashman is the league's leader in runs scored (25) and doubles (11) while her 40 total hits check in third best among league leaders. Marianne Sparacia is hitting .355 while Sara Siteman (.321) and Casey Harding (.309) round out the four River Hawk .300 hitters. Harding leads the team with 18 RBI and four home runs while ranking second in the league with 10 doubles.

In the circle, Lovina Capria is 10-4 with a 2.53 ERA and 84 strikeouts over 97.0 innings. Capria has tossed 12 complete games with three shutouts.

-UMaine-