NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Two complete games from starting pitchers, 15 runs, and 21 hits led the University of Maine softball team to a two game sweep over Tennessee State on Tuesday evening in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
Game One - Maine: 6 Tennessee State: 1
 
The scoring did not begin until the third inning. Shanna Scribner led off the top of the inning with a stand-up double. Keely Clark moved Scribner to third on a ground out. The next batter, Laurine German, ripped a single back through the box to give her team an early 1-0 lead.
 
In their half of third inning, Reese Weber singled to left field that and scored Bri Vire to tie the game at one run apiece.
 
With runners on second and third, Shanna Scribner executed a perfect bunt. Intended to be a sacrifice, Scribner beat the throw to first base. Kyleigh O'Donnell scored with ease on the play. With Drews on third and Scribner on first, German tripled down the right field line. The Black Bears led 4-1 after the top of the fourth.
 
German continued her torrid day at the plate with another RBI in the top of the 6th. The senior lifted a deep sacrifice fly to left field that advanced Emma Larke from third. Fellow senior Alyssa Derrick followed German's RBI with an RBI double of her own. Maine's 6-1 lead would last for the rest of the game as they knocked of Tennessee State in game one of the double header.
 
Notes:

• Lilly Volk (3-4) threw the first complete game of the 2019 season for the Black Bears, while she only allowed one earned run and struck out five.
• Laurine German paced the offense with her four RBI. Shanna Scribner and Alyssa Derrick drove in the other two Maine RBI.

 
Game two - Maine: 9 Tennessee State: 3
 
Once again the Black Bears struck first. After Brianna Neely and Grace McGouldrick both reached on singles, Laurine German drove both of them home with a triple. Alyssa Derrick, the next batter, singled to left field. German scored on the base knock. Maine had a 3-0 lead after their first at bat.
 
Brianna Neely stepped into the box with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth. Maddie Decker, Kya Enos, and Emma Larke filled the bases. Neely hit a ball over the pitchers head to the middle of the infield. Decker and Enos came around to score on the high bouncer. Larke would eventually cross the plate on a pass ball. Six runs was the advantage through Maine's half of the fourth.
 
Tennessee State scored a run in the bottom of the fifth on a throwing error by the Black Bears' infield. The Tigers would add another on a groundout to Grace McGouldrick. Maine held a 6-2 lead after five complete.
 
With Emma Larke standing on third base, McGouldrick did her job and pulled a ball to the right side of the infield. Larke scored Maine's seventh run with ease. Pinching hitting for Laurine German, Shanna Scribner singled up the middle scoring Brianna Neely from second base. Six was once again the lead for the Black Bears.
 
Maddie Kimble took advantage of her opportunity when she came to the plate in the top of the seventh. She lined a double to the fence that score Mikayla 'M.K.' Livingston on the two-bagger. This time the run lead would stick, and Maine would earn their first sweep of the season.
 
Notes:

• Kyleigh O'Donnell threw the Black Bears' second consecutive complete game. Over the seven innings, she allowed only two earned runs and struck out three.
• Laurine German recorded two more RBI for a total of six on the day. Brianna Neely tallied three hits and one RBI out of the leadoff spot, while Maddie Kimble finished with a hit and an RBI.

Next: Maine returns to the diamond tomorrow when they take on Belmont in a doubleheader starting at 5:00 pm EST.

-UMaine-