ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine softball team defeated the University at Albany Great Danes in the first game of the doubleheader, 7-6, while dropping game number two, 8-0, at the UMaine Softball Complex.
 
Game One: University of Maine 7, University at Albany 6
 
The Great Danes struck first in the top of the fourth inning. UAlbany benefited from an RBI single. Caitlyn Fallon kept the damage to a minimum by allowing the lone run.
 
Maine wasted no time tying the game as Kelby Drews homered in her second career at bat at the new complex. Katie Jo Moery singled with the bases loaded before Anna Margetis lifted a sacrifice fly. At the end of four innings, Maine held a 3-1 lead.
 
UAlbany manufactured two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Alysen Rieth was called upon to get the Black Bears out of the jam. The Great Danes got another in the top of the sixth.
 
It looked as though Maine would drop the first game of the day as Mariah Pearson fell behind 0-2 in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and Jasmine Gray on third, Pearson singled to left. With a 4-4 score, the contest went to extras.
 
Two quick runs in the top of the 8th, and UAlbany looked to have a stronghold on the America East game.
 
McGouldrick, who reached on a bunt single, scored on an error. Gray grounded out and allowed Moery to score. With Anna Margetis standing on third, Drews stayed hot and ripped the game winning single off the left field fence. The Black Bears won their first league game of the 2023 season by a score of 7-6.
 
Notes:

• Alysen Rieth (4-4) and Caitlyn Fallon threw a combined 8.0 innings, struck out five, and allowed six earned runs.
• Kelby Drews paced the offense with a solo shot and a walk-off RBI single. Moery, Margetis, Gray, and Pearson all chipped in with an RBI.

Game Two: University of Maine 0, University at Albany 8
 
The Great Danes did not wait around in game number two. The visitors posted three runs in the top of the first. A triple and two singles equaled disaster for the Black Bears. After one inning, Maine trailed 3-0.
 
The Black Bears found themselves down 5-0 after the fourth inning. Errors and timely walks helped UAlbany. In the top of seventh, the Great Danes pushed three across. It was enough as Maine did not match to finish the game in six innings.
 
Notes:

• Caitlyn Fallon, Ava Zettlemoyer, and Alexandra Gruitch all appeared in the finale. The trio combined to allow eight earned and strike out two.
• Grace McGouldrick and Krista Francia both walked.

Next: The Black Bears are scheduled to play three America East games at Bryant starting on Saturday, April 8. First pitch at Bryant is scheduled for 1:00 pm/
 
-UMaine-