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Twelve wins may not seem like a milestone for the University of Maine softball team, but considering the Black Bears only won that many in the 2001 season, coach Deb Smith and her squad can feel good about the way their season has started.
UMaine brings its 12-14 record to Harvard University Saturday for a doubleheader with the Crimson. The Black Bears have just four games remaining before the conference schedule begins and are well on their way to erasing last season’s woes.
“The team has a lot of confidence right now, especially after playing very competitive games against a couple of ranked teams in Florida State and Wisconsin,” Smith said. “Mentally, we are playing to win and not playing to lose, which seemed to be the case last season.”
Unlike many UMaine students who spent their spring break working on their tans, the softball team spent spring break playing 21 games in 15 days. The Black Bears did enjoy some sunny southern weather and had mixed success against several East Coast teams. UMaine won nine of its first 14 games during the Southern swing before enduing a six-game skid. The Bears picked up a win over Samford University last Sunday to end the trip on a winning note, but Smith said her team’s record is not as important as the experience her players gained.
“We were able to get some great production from the top of our order, but what really made a difference in the wins was the bottom half of the order was able to produce,” Smith said. “Our defense improved considerably the second week and we got some great work out of our two primary pitchers, Candie Jaegge and Jenna Merchant.”
A mixture of senior leadership and the solid play of a trio of first-year Black Bears has been a big part of the team’s early success. Senior captain Erica Sobel, a three-year All-America East selection, has started the season red hot, leading the team with a .356 batting average. Classmate Leigh Ann Hlywak, also a three-time conference honoree, isn’t far behind at .338, and she has also belted out a team-high eight home runs. Halfway through the season, Hlywak is on pace to challenge the Black Bear record for homers in a season. Sara Jewett holds the mark by notching 15 in the 2000 campaign.
Smith is also getting significant contributions from three freshmen, Merchant, Jessica Brady and Lindsay Tibbetts. Merchant, a Sandy, Utah native, has handled a large share of the pitching duties and has fared well in her rookie season. She has a 7-6 record with 12 complete games, three shutouts and a 1.93 earned run average. Brady, an outfielder from Jackman, Maine, has started all 26 games and is hitting .321 with a team-high four stolen bases. Tibbetts has also played well off the bench.
“They are all steady and solid,” Smith said. “They have stepped into their roles and have blended well with the veterans.”
UMaine’s ability to win close games is something that was considerably lacking a season ago, and this year’s club has taken a big step forward in that department. The 2001 Black Bears were on the losing end of 13 one-run games. But this season, UMaine won six one-run affairs, something Smith attributes to experience and leadership.
“We have been much more successful in coming up with the clutch hit and we’re hitting smartly,” Smith said. “Pitching has also been a big improvement. We are getting steady performances out of both pitchers which allows the players to play much more relaxed and confident.”
The Black Bears have four non-conference games remaining, including a doubleheader with University of Massachusetts-Amherst, a week from today. UMaine opens its America East schedule April 6 at the University of Hartford.
