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Softball Drops Doubleheader on Friday
Feb. 23, 2007
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Maine softball team opened its 2007 season Friday by dropping a pair of games on the opening day of the Panera Bread Challenge in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Black Bears fell to Bowling Green, 2-0, in the day's first contest, and then dropped an 8-2 decision to Miami, Ohio. In the first game of the day, the Black Bears dropped a tough 2-0 decision to Bowling Green. Jenna Balent (0-1) took the mound as the starter for the Black Bears and pitched all seven innings in suffering the loss. Despite the outcome, the reigning America East Rookie of the Year pitched solid in the season's first outing as she yielded just two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. The Black Bears managed just four hits, including one each from Whitney Spangler, Kristie Hawkins, Alexis Souhlaris and Melinda Corssino. The Falcons stroked five hits and scored a run in both the first and fourth innings to seal the win. Spangler collected Maine's lone RBI in the second game of the day versus Miami, Ohio. Tara Vilardo scored once and Erin Iandoli scored Maine's second run.
Freshman Christine McGivney got the start on the mound for the Black Bears -- the first start of her collegiate career -- and yielded four runs on six hits in four innings of work. She struck out one batter and did not walk any. Fellow freshman hurler Jessica Ghazali came on in relief of McGivney and allowed four runs on three hits with two strikeouts in six innings of work.
Maine continues action in the Panera Bread Challenge on Saturday when the Black Bears face Eastern Kentucky at 12:15 p.m., and host-school UT-Chattanooga at 4:45 p.m. |
