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Softball Downs Hartford in Series Finale on Monday
April 24, 2006
ORONO, Maine - Sarah Bennis (Pownal, Maine) and Jenna Balent (Conifer, Colo.) combined to pitch a four-hit shutout on Monday to lead the University of Maine softball team to a 3-0 win over Hartford in the series finale of a three-game set at UH Softball Field. Monday's game was a makeup from Sunday, which was postponed due to heavy rain. The Black Bears pulled off the series sweep of the Hawks and ran their record to 30-15 overall and 11-3 in America East. Maine also became just the second team in program history to win at least 30 games in a season. This season's squad sits just two wins shy of the top mark of 32 wins set by the 1994 team. The 1994 Black Bears posted a 32-17 record and went to the NCAA Regionals for the first time in school history. Maine's sweep of Hartford also marked the second series sweep for the Black Bears over a conference foe this season. Maine defeated Vermont in a three-game set back on April 8-9, at Kessock Field in Orono. It was Maine's fourth win in a row overall and sixth in the last seven. Bennis earned the win for Maine and ran her record to 17-5 on the season. She went four innings and struck out six, while issuing just one walk and allowing only two hits. Balent pitched the final three innings to pick up her team-leading third save of the season. She yielded just two hits and a pair of walks in the process. Molly McKinney (Byron Center, Mich.) led Maine's offensive attack with a pair of hits and a run scored. Marguerite Soule (Pepperell, Mass.) and Dana Grimm (Coopersville, Mich.) accounted for Maine's two RBI in the contest.
The Black Bears return home for four games this week, as all are critical conference matchups. Maine will play host to rival Boston University on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., at Kessock Field. The game will be the third between the two teams this season, as both squads split a doubleheader in Boston back on April 12. Admission to all home softball games at Kessock Field is free. Fans who are not able to attend Wednesday's contest can listen to it on the radio at WZON-AM 620.
Maine will then play host to Binghamton in a three-game series this Saturday and Sunday at Kessock. Both teams will sqaure off in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. The series finale will be held on Sunday beginning at noon. |
