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With a mid-April snow storm on Tuesday, the University of Maine softball team was forced to postpone its home doubleheader with Boston University.
“Only in Maine are we an indoor sport,” joked UMaine head coach Michelle Puls.
Maine and BU were predicted to finish in the top two slots in the America East by the preseason coaches’ poll. While both teams are off to good starts, they will have to wait a few more weeks before they will play each other.
While no official make-up date has been set, Puls says her team will most likely play the two games at BU when the two teams meet later in the month.
UMaine beat Hartford twice over the weekend. The Black Bears improved their conference record to 4-1. The team beat the Hawks 7-1 on Saturday but then fell short in the second game of the day 3-2. UMaine battled back on Sunday and beat Hartford 3-2 in extra innings.
“I thought our bats came alive in the first game,” said Puls. “Unfortunately they let down in the second game.”
UMaine will take its 4-1 record to Vermont on Saturday. The Catamounts are 2-4 in conference play but are not to be overlooked.
“They’ve had two good wins against UMBC and Stony Brook, and they’re a team not to be taken lightly,” said Puls. “They’re a bit of an unknown in the conference just because of the fact that the kids who are coming up for them are freshman.”
Vermont, who is 13-8 overall, is young, while UMaine is full of veteran players. Puls says her veteran team has been inconsistent just about everywhere except for pitching.
“The one place we’ve had consistency has been our pitching,” she said. “That’s been solid with all four of our pitchers on our staff right now.”
UMaine’s pitchers are junior Sarah Bennis, seniors Candace Jaegge, Jenna Merchant, and sophomore Alexis Pullen. Puls says that Bennis will most likely start the first game of the weekend in Vermont, with Jaegge and Merchant to follow.
Bennis has an earned run average of 1.57, which is best on the team and second best in the conference. She is 3-0 in conference play. Merchant has a 2.25 ERA against conference teams and Jaegge comes in at 3.00 ERA.
The Black Bears will open their series with the Catamounts in Burlington at noon on Saturday. They will play a double-header that day and then play another game Sunday at noon.
“It’s supposed to be great weather up there and that’s always a plus,” said Puls. “It’s going to be nice.”
The Black Bears will return to UMaine next Tuesday, but not to Orono. They will make a stop in Waterville to take on Colby. The game will be played at 4:30 p.m.
UMaine’s 4-1 record is good enough to be tied for second in the America East. Albany is also 4-1, and Stony Brook is out in front at 5-1. UMaine is 9-17 overall. The top four teams make the conference tournament. While the conference tournament was held in Orono last season, it will be held in Stony Brook, N.Y. this season.
Bangor Daily News