NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- The University of Maine softball team split an afternoon doubleheader with the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils by winning the first game, 4-2, and dropping the second game, 7-8.
 
Game One - Maine: 4 CCSU: 2
 
Kelby Drews wasted no time. In her first at bat of the afternoon, the junior shortstop crushed a solo shot. Keely Clark followed the home run with an RBI single. After the top of the first inning in Connecticut, the Black Bears held a 2-0 lead.
 
Rian Eigenmann brought her squad to within one when the lead-off hitter for the Blue Devils homered in her first at bat of the ball game.
 
After Kya Enos led off the top of the third inning with a triple to right field, Grace McGouldrick grounded out to second base. The deep ground ball was enough as Enos touched home on the ground out.
 
With the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, Keely Clark worked a walk and pushing home Kya Enos. In the bottom half of the inning, Meg Dubas lined an RBI single for CCSU. After five complete in New Britain, Maine held a 4-2 lead.
 
The two run advantage would stand in game number one as the Black Bears would win the first half of the afternoon doubleheader.
 
Notes:

• Kyleigh O'Donnell (2-1) went the distance for Maine. The senior hurler struck out eight and only allowed two runs.
• Kelby Drews, Kya Enos, and Grace McGouldrick all had two hits for the Black Bears. One of Drews' hits was a home run, and Enos recorded a triple in game #1.

 
Game Two - Maine: 7 CCSU: 8
 
Maine struck first in the second game of the afternoon. With Emma Larke and Grace McGouldrick in scoring position, Izzy Nieblas lined a single to left field. Both of the Black Bears were able to score. Jasmine Gray's sacrifice fly allowed Kya Enos to score, and Amanda Nee doubled home Nieblas. The four run lead, unfortunately, was short lived.
 
The Blue Devils scored three runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Rian Eigenmann launched a home run and Meg Dugas drove home a run on a ground out. Carli Backlund scored on a wild pitch after doubling. After the Blue Devils had added another run in the bottom of the second, the four run lead had evaporated.
 
Izzy Nieblas launched a two run home run in the top of the third inning. Kya Enos, who had reached base earlier in the inning, came around to score on the big fly. The sophomore then lifted a sacrifice fly in her at bat in the top of the fourth inning. Thanks to Nieblas, Maine, once again, held a lead.
 
In the bottom of the fifth and sixth, CCSU would take a 8-7 lead and not relinquish it. A double, a single, and a sacrifice fly were the undoing of the Black Bears. The New England foes split the Saturday afternoon doubleheader.
 
Notes:

• Gabbie Siciliano got the nod for the second game. The junior went 2.0 innings, allowed four earned, and struck out one. Lilly Volk was called upon to go 2.1 innings for the Black Bears. She allowed three runs and struck out two. Caitlyn Fallon (0-4) was tabbed with the loss after allowing an unearned run over the final 1.2 innings.
• Amanda Nee, Grace McGouldrick, and Izzy Nieblas all finished the game with two hits apiece. Nieblas tallied a home run and five RBI during her second game of the day

 
Next: Maine will complete the series with the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils tomorrow morning. First pitch for Sunday is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
 
-UMaine-