HAMDEN, Conn. -- The University of Maine softball team defeated the University of Hartford, 9-2, in game number one, while also winning game number two, 8-4, by Quinnipiac University on Saturday afternoon at Quinnipiac Softball Field.
 
Maine: 9 Hartford: 2
 
The Black Bears scored the first run of the game and never looked back. In the top of the third inning, Kelby Drews doubled home Kya Enos. Hartford tied the game in the bottom of the third with an RBI double of their own.
 
Maine scored five runs over the fourth and fifth inning. Mariah Pearson logged an RBI single, Kelby Drews drove home another run with a single, Izzy Nieblas doubled to deep center, and Jasmine Gray completed the rally with a two-run home run.
 
Hartford homered in the bottom of the sixth, but it was the final run for the Hawks.
 
Keely Clark tallied two RBI on a single, and Pearson scored the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly. The Black Bears won their first game of the season in New England, 9-2.
 
Notes:

• Emily Reid (1-4) earned the win in game number one by going all seven innings. The senior only allowed two runs on five hits, while striking out four.
• Kya Enos and Jasmine Gray each recorded three hits, while Kelby Drews, Grace McGouldrick, Keely Clark, and Mariah Pearson all finished the first game with two hits.

 
Maine: 8 Quinnipiac: 4
The Black Bears scored in the top of the first inning after Kya Enos executed a perfect sacrifice bunt.
 
Keely Clark lifted a sacrifice fly to right field. Izzy Nieblas was provided enough time to touch home on the fly ball. Quinnipiac scored a run of their own in the bottom half of the second. After two complete, Maine led 2-1.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, the Bobcats took the lead. A two-run double after two errors committed by the Black Bears was the story of the inning. Maine trailed 3-2 after three complete in Hamden.
 
Clark stayed incredibly hot for the Black Bears. With two outs and runners on second and third, the catcher lined a single to left field. Drews and Nieblas came around to score on the base knock. At the end of the fourth, Maine held a 4-3 lead.
 
Kelby Drews cleared the bases with a triple and scored on an overthrow by the left fielder. After the top half of the fifth inning, the Black Bears grabbed a 7-3 lead. Quinnipiac was able to push a single run across in their half of the fifth to cut into the Maine lead, 7-4.
 
Maine scored a single run in the top of the sixth inning before the skies opened. The umpires called the game complete during the Black Bears final at bat. Maine completed the sweep with an 8-4 win over the Quinnipiac University Bobcats.
 
Notes:

• Gabbie Siciliano, Caitlyn Fallon (2-0), and Alexandra Gruitch all appeared in the game against Quinnipiac. They combined to allow only two earned runs while striking out two.
• Gabby Papushka combined for five hits and four RBI. Kelby Drews drove in three during the win.

 
Next: The Black Bears will complete the round robin tomorrow, Sunday, March 27. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 9:30 am.
 
-UMaine-