The University of Maine softball team swept the University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks in three games of America East conference play over the weekend. The offense came to life for the Black Bears as Maine won three much-needed games. The Black Bears took both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, and then closed out the series with a 6-3 win on Sunday.
Maine Takes Doubleheader
Game one of the doubleheader was dominated by fourth-year pitcher and Maine ace Alexis Bogdanovich, who tossed her fifth shutout of the season in an impressive 7-0 victory. Bogdanovich allowed just one hit after taking the no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth inning. She allowed just that one hit while striking out 13 on her way to her eighth victory of the year.
Maine got the offense rolling in the fourth inning, when they were finally able to figure out Lowell third-year pitcher Marielle Handley. Second-year shortstop Felicia Lennon had worked her way to third base when fourth-year left fielder EmJ Fogel doubled down the right field line to bring in the first run of the day. Fogel would go on to record six hits on the afternoon, going 6-8 with two doubles, three RBI and scoring two runs.
Maine would score again in the fifth when an error by the River Hawks’ second baseman allowed fourth-year second baseman Kristin Koslosky to cross the plate to increase the lead to 2-0.
The Black Bears would eventually put together a three run top of the sixth inning to officially put the game out of reach late. Fogel led off the inning with a single to right. She would eventually be knocked in by a Shelby Obert single. Fourth-year infielder Nikki Byron would continue to make things difficult for UMass, as she brought in Obert on a double. After Byron advanced to third on the throw home, first-year pinch hitter Faythe Goins recorded her first career RBI on an infield single to second.
Maine would tack on a pair of runs in the seventh inning to make the score 7-0. Third-year catcher Janelle Bouchard got things started with a double to left, and advanced to third on Fogel’s fourth hit of the game. Fourth-year pinch hitter Jessica Burk knocked in both Fogel and Bouchard on a double down the left field line.
Black Bears take it in extras
Game two was a much closer contest, requiring one extra inning of play before Maine came through in the top of the eighth.
Maine’s offense would get off to a quick start, scoring four runs in the first three innings. First-year right fielder Erika Leonard and first-year center fielder Rachel Carlson both reached before Leonard was knocked in by Lennon’s single. Carlson would be called out on a fielder’s choice play at second base, but Lennon would remain on base, and would later score on a single to left by Fogel to give Maine a 2-0 lead after one inning.
The River Hawks would answer back in the bottom of the second, cutting the Black Bear lead to one. Second-year right fielder Mikayle Powlowsky would reach on a fielder’s choice, which knocked in fourth-year center fielder Ariana Darcy from third.
The Black Bears would increase their lead to 4-1 in the top of the third when Lennon singled, stole second and then would score on a Fogel double. Second-year catcher Rachel Harvey would follow that hit with a double of her own, bringing Fogel in from second.
After that, Lowell would catch up to Maine second-year starter Erin Bogdanovich, who would exit the game after the fifth inning, giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits. She walked one while striking out three batters. Maine would go to the bullpen where first-year reliever Annie Kennedy.
Maine would not be outdone in the eighth, where Harvey led off the inning with a single, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Obert. Second-year pinch runner Chloe Douglass came into the game to run for Harvey at second, and would score on a hard hit ball to left by Goins, who was pinch hitting.
That gave the Black Bears the 5-4 lead. After Kennedy finished the bottom of the eighth, Maine got their second straight win.
Black Bears Complete the Sweep
Maine would finish off the River Hawks in game three of the conference series, getting the 6-3 victory. The Bogdanovich sisters would dominate the game in the circle, with Alexis getting the start and Erin getting her first save of the season.
The offense was still working well for the Black Bears, as Lennon started this off in the first inning with a solo home run to left to give Maine the early 1-0 lead. For Lennon, it was her second homer of the season.
Three straight errors by the Lowell defense allowed the Black Bears to extend their lead to 3-1 in the top of the third. First-year second baseman Sarah Coyne would reach on the first error, Carlson would reach on the second, and then Lennon would reach on a throwing error by Lowell, allowing Coyne to score. Carlson would score as well on a well planned double steal play, as Lowell elected to throw out Lennon at second and allow the run to score.
Maine would add one more run in the top of the fourth inning when Byron’s single up the middle brought in Burk from third. In the bottom of the inning, Lowell began staging a comeback, scoring three times. Third-year catcher Emilia Davies began the inning with a single, and would score on a RBI double by fourth-year third baseman Abby Jamieson. Fourth-year left fielder Ally Greene would cut the lead to 4-3 when her double to the gap in left center plated two.
Maine would settle down and tack on two more runs in the top of the sixth. Byron doubled to drive in her second run of the day and later scored on a Goins pinch hit single.
On the weekend, Maine improves to 15-15 (4-2 AE) and moves into third place in conference, while the Lowell River Hawks fall to 10-21 and have yet to record a win in conference in six attempts. The Black Bears will return home to host Stony brook University next weekend starting at 12 p.m.