ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine softball team defeated the University of Maryland Baltimore County Terriers, 8-3, on Sunday morning at Kessock Field.

Maine: 8 UMBC: 3

The Black Bears scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Grace McGouldrick started the rally off with a triple to right field. Gabby Papushka executed a perfect bunt which both scored McGouldrick and allowed the freshman to reach base safely. Kelby Drews tried to follow suit with a bunt of her own. The Retrievers committed an error on the throw to first. Papushka reached third on the miscue.
 
Izzy Nieblas laid down a bunt that found its way between the shortstop and third baseman. Maine led 2-0 after the three consecutive bunts. Drews was caught stealing before Jasmine Gray tripled down the right field line. Katie Jo Moery singled to right and scored Gray. The Black Bears held a 4-0 lead after the first inning.
 
UMBC got one back with a single run  in the top of the second and the fourth innings. After four complete innings, Maine held a 4-2 advantage.
 
Kelby Drews ripped an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth before coming around to score on Keely Clark's RBI single. Papushka touched home on the Drews' base knock. The lead was four after five innings at Kessock.
 
McGouldrick and Drews both touched the plate in the bottom of the sixth. They were the final runs of the ball game for the Black Bears as Maine defeated the Terriers, 8-3.
 
Notes:

• Gabbie Siciliano (2-5) and Emily Reid (1) combined to go the distance for the Bears. They allowed three earned runs, struck out six, and gave up only seven hits as a unit.
• Grace McGouldrick (two), Kelby Drews (three), Izzy Nieblas (two), Jasmine Gray, Keely Clark, and Katie Jo Moery all recorded the hits. Drews (two), Nieblas (two), Gray, Moery, Clark, and Gabby Papushka each drove in a run.

 
Next: The Black Bears return to the diamond Saturday, April 23 when they host Binghamton. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
 
-UMaine-