CLINTON, S.C. – The University of Maine softball team dropped two close contests on the second day of the Pinnacle PC Invitational at the PC Softball Complex.
 
The Black Bears fell to the East Tennessee State Buccaneers in the first game of the day, 3-1, and then fell to the host Blue Hose, 3-2, in the second.
 
Game 3
Score: East Tennessee State 3, Maine 1
Stadium: PC Softball Complex
How it Happened

• Maine took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to Immy Gie's line drive through the left side scoring Keira Inman … starter Alysen Rieth then retired the first NINE batters that she faced and Maine's 1-0 lead would hold through 3.5 frames.
• The Buccaneers pushed a run across in the bottom of the fourth with a sacrifice fly.
• After a two-hour weather delay, the teams returned to play in the top of the fifth.
• In the bottom of the sixth, ETSU scored two runs to take the 3-1 lead and then held on for the win.

Game Notes

• Alysen Rieth went 6.0 innings, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out four and walking two.
• Gabby Papushka (1-for-4), Immy Gie (1-for-3), Francesca Guerrera (1-for-4) and Kyrah Haba-Dailey (1-for-3) recorded hits for the Black Bears … Gie drove in Maine's run in the top of the first.
• Bailey Snowberger earned two walks.

Game 4
Score: Presbyterian College 3, Maine 2
Stadium: PC Softball Complex
How it Happened

• After 3.5 scoreless innings, Gabby Papushka's solo home run to left field put Maine up 1-0.
• The Blue Hose put a runner on third in the bottom half of the fourth but Madison Simmerman struck a batter out swinging to strand the runner ... Simmerman did the same in the bottom of the fifth.
• Presbyterian, though, pushed three runs across in the bottom of the sixth with a two-RBI single and then an unearned run on a throwing error.
• Kyrah Haba-Dailey led off the top of the seventh with a single and eventually scored on a Keira Inman single up the middle but a fly out ended the game with two Black Bears left on base.

Game Notes

• Madison Simmerman made her first career start in the circle, throwing 6.0 innings while giving up three ones – one earned – on seven hits … Simmerman had four strikeouts and allowed two walks.
• Gabby Papushka finished 2-for-3 for her first multi-hit game of the year.
• Keira Inman (1-for-4), Bailey Snowberger (1-for-4) and Kyrah Haba-Dailey (1-for-3) gave Maine five total hits in the game.
• Snowberger's hit marked the first of her career.

 
Up Next

• Maine will tentatively play an 11 a.m. game tomorrow against Eastern Tennessee State.