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The University of Maine softball team opened up its home schedule right as they swept Merrimack College Saturday afternoon, improving its season record to 18-11.
The Black Bears were down early in the first game, but fought back with six unanswered runs to down the Warriors 6-2. The second game brought another come-from-behind victory for UMaine as they won 5-4, in an extra innings affair.
Freshman pitcher Courtney Gingrich calmed down after the first inning, in which she gave up a two-run home run to Merrimack’s Stephanie Simon. Gingrich finished with five solid innings.
The Black Bears came back with two runs in the second inning, highlighted by a two-out, two-run single by outfielder Erin Provost.
UMaine took the lead in the fourth inning when shortstop Brittany Cheney shot a single to left field scoring Dana Grimm, who had earlier reached base on an error.
“Cheney has really stepped up for us offensively,” said UMaine coach Stacey Sullivan. “She seems extremely confident up at the plate and if she can continue that trend in conference we should be successful.”
Molly McKinney, a senior outfielder, added to the lead with a two-run single to centerfield, making it 5-2. In the fifth inning, UMaine scored again on a single by third-baseman Tara Vilardo.
Senior Sarah Bennis came on to relieve Gingrich after the fifth inning and shut down the Warriors, maintaining the Black Bears’ lead over the final two frames.
“Sarah has really been key for our overall success. She is throwing the ball very well and has been very consistent on the mound,” said Sullivan.
Merrimack scored first again in the second game, but the Black Bears answered in the third when Grimm scored on a Vilardo ground-out to second base.
The Black Bears tied the game in the fourth inning as Grimm hit a two-run double to right center field, bringing the score to 3-3.
Tension mounted in the sixth, as the Warriors regained their lead after an error by UMaine’s catcher, which allowed a Merrimack runner on third to score.
All was not lost though, as in the next inning freshman Ashley Waters laid down a successful squeeze, allowing Provost to score from third and knotting the game at 4-4.
The Black Bears then scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a bases-loaded single by Marguerite Soule.
“I am pleased with the way we have started the season,” Sullivan said. “It is always a good feeling to put up some wins, however, we are not satisfied. Now, we have to focus on conference play and beating teams three times in a series.”
Sullivan attributed this weekend’s wins to their ability to play the season’s openers in the Mahaney Dome.
“It saved us from taking a long trip to New York two weeks in a row,” said Sullivan. “After our Florida schedule, it was very important for the girls to get some rest.”
UMaine will face Stony Brook for three games during the weekend of April 1.
That series will begin UMaine’s America East conference schedule. The Black Bears’ next home series comes the weekend of April 8 with a three-game set against Vermont. The top four teams make the America East playoffs.
Bangor Daily News