Friday, February 6
Macon, Ga.
10:00 AM
University of Maine
0-1
1
vs
4
Evansville
1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Evansville | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 4 | 8 | 2 |
Maine falls in close contests to Evansville, NC A&T
2/6/2026 2:58:00 PM | Softball
Maine opened up the 2026 season on Friday at the Heart of Georgia Classic.
MACON, Ga. – The University of Maine softball team opened up the 2026 season on Friday at the Heart of Georgia Classic, falling in a pair of close games to North Carolina A&T and Evansville.
The Black Bears will return to action tomorrow, Feb. 7 with two more games, taking on Mercer and North Carolina A&T.
Game 1
Score: Evansville 4, Maine 1
Stadium: Sikes Files
How it Happened
Score: North Carolina A&T 3, Maine 2
Stadium: Sikes Field
How it Happened
Up Next
The Black Bears will return to action tomorrow, Feb. 7 with two more games, taking on Mercer and North Carolina A&T.
Game 1
Score: Evansville 4, Maine 1
Stadium: Sikes Files
How it Happened
- Evansville struck first with a home run in the bottom of the first and then an inning later used an RBI single to make it 2-0.
- Maine made it 2-1 in the top of the third after loading the bases and then getting Abby Rhee home on a throwing error.
- The Purple Aces threatened again in the fourth but Alysen Rieth got out of the bases-loaded jam with an inning-ending groundout … after the loading the bases again in the sixth, Evansville plated two runs for the 4-2 lead
- Anna Carlson, Annika Shearer, Kaelyn Larkin and Laura Craska all made their collegiate debuts.
- Alysen Rieth started in the circle, throwing 6.0 innings while giving up four runs – three earned – on eight hits while striking out two.
- Annika Shearer, Madison Hand and Morgan Pool all earned two walks each.
- Carlson and Keira Inman both had a stolen base.
Score: North Carolina A&T 3, Maine 2
Stadium: Sikes Field
How it Happened
- The teams played five scoreless frames … NC A&T loaded the bases in the bottom of the second but Ava Zettlemoyer forced a strikeout and a groundout to get out of the jam.
- In the top of the sixth, Francesca Guerrera led off with a single … four batters later, Guerrera and pinch runner Keira Inman both scored on a pass ball and throwing error for a 2-0 Maine lead.
- In the bottom of the sixth, NC A&T used a three-run shot to left field to take the lead.
- Annika Shearer recorded her first career hit in the top of the seventh but was left on base.
- Ava Zettlemoyer threw 6.0 innings, giving up three runs on five hits with five walks and seven strikeouts.
- Alli Goetz made her collegiate debut while Neve Adams made her NCAA Division I debut.
- Annika Shearer recorded her first career hit.
- Francesca Guerrera and Maggie Helms also had hits for the Black Bears.
- Anna Carlson recorded two stolen bases.
Up Next
- Maine will face North Carolina A&T (12:30 p.m.) and Mercer (5:30 p.m.) tomorrow on the second day of the Heart of Georgia Classic.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballTeam Stats
Pitching:
W: K. Ridgway (1-0)
L: Rieth, Alysen (0-1)
Batting:
SH: Hernandez, Kyli 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rhee, Abby 1
SB: Carlson, Anna 1 ; Inman, Keira 1
HBP: Hernandez, Kyli 1
Batting:
2B: J. Willsey 1 ; B. Voss 1 ; E. Piggott 1
HR: J. Willsey 1
RBI: J. Willsey 1 ; M. Wilkins 2 ; K. Pye 1
SH: B. Voss 1
Base Running:
RUNS: T. Howe 1 ; J. Willsey 1 ; N. Bode 1 ; C. Meinel 1
SB: E. McDonald 1 ; C. Meinel 1
HBP: M. Adams 2
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Tuesday, April 28
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Friday, March 27
Saturday, April 01
