Sports |

Epic comeback for UM

By Tyler Francke

Posted on Monday, April 30th, 2007, 12:00 am

jenna lavallee

OFF TO THE RACES - Ashley Waters holds her ground at second base as UAlbany's Nicole Kothe swipes third during yesterday's softball game. Waters bashed a solo homer to help ignite the Black Bears 8-7 comeback win.

jenna lavallee

UNDERHAND TOSS - Jessica Ghazali started on Senior Day.

Yesterday, the University of Maine softball team gathered together for a Senior Day game against the University of Albany in which it seemed like just about everything was going against them. Coming off a season in which they had recorded the most wins in school history, their record of 21-25 was not what they had hoped it would be, despite losing seven seniors from last year’s squad. They have spent most of the season on exhausting road trips and because of cancellations due to weather they were finishing up their home season only five days after their home opener. As if all that wasn’t enough, the weather continued to refuse to cooperate, pouring rain all day and delaying the game’s start by an hour.

The Black Bears tried to make the best of the day despite the less-than-ideal weather. The senior class and their parents were honored before the game and a buffet provided by Margarita’s in Orono offered under a large tent to keep the rain out. When the game finally did start, a large crowd of fans gathered to support their team under a multitude of umbrellas.

After three-and-a-half innings of play, with UMaine down 7-0, defeat seemed like a certainty, having already lost two games to Albany on Saturday by scores of 5-0 and 4-3 respectively. A lesser team might have given up, but not the Black Bears. In the bottom of the fourth inning, a small spark was ignited on the damp Kessock Field as two of their young standouts, sophomore Ashley Waters and freshman Kristen Calvetti, blasted solo home runs to put a couple of runs on the board.

In the fifth inning UMaine was able to push a few more runs across the plate. A few of the seniors being honored on Sunday were instrumental in that inning. It all began with senior outfielder Kate Joseph, who got on base with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by an Albany player. After two outs were made, Joseph’s classmate Tara Vilardo came up to the plate and drove a double to left field to bring her home and make it 7-3. Next came Alexis Souhlaris, who was walked, followed by Waters who collected another RBI with a base hit single to drive in Vilardo. Senior Kristie Hawkins finished up the scoring with an RBI single into left field to tack on another run and pull the Black Bears within two.

After a scoreless sixth inning, it came down to the seventh and final frame to decide the game’s outcome. With Albany still leading 7-5, sophomore pitcher Jenna Balent, who had come in to relieve starter Jessica Ghazali in the third, put down Albany without allowing a run. The Black Bears went to work to pull out the win in the bottom of the seventh and final inning. Pinch hitter Stephanie George and Vilardo drew leadoff walks to begin the frame. Leah McIntosh came on in relief of Albany’s starting pitcher and immediately struck out Souhlaris for the innings first out. Waters followed and nailed a pitch to the center field wall for a double and drove in senior pinch runner Alexis Pullen and Vilardo. Waters would then advance to third on a passed ball by Albany’s catcher Kat Smith. Ashley slid home for the winning run when McIntosh let loose a wild pitch, completing the remarkable comeback and sealing the win for UMaine. Their record improved to 22-25 on the season and 7-10 in America East, while the Great Danes fell to 26-14 and 9-8 in the conference.

Head Coach Stacy Sullivan said that the Black Bears “have come from behind in many games this season.” She said that it was good that they were finally able to play at home, although it is upsetting that they have to finish almost as quickly as they started.

“We keep focusing on consistency, playing every out, making every play,” Sullivan said. “We are making too many mistakes. Tournament teams can’t afford to make mistakes. We need to win right now. We need to find ways to make that happen in every game we play from here on out.”