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Softball Comes From Behind to Down Albany 8-7 on Sunday
April 29, 2007 ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine softball team scored eight unanswered runs, including three in the seventh inning to down Albany, 8-7, on Sunday afternoon at Kessock Field in Orono. The Black Bears ran their record to 22-25 overall and 7-10 in America East. The Great Danes fell to 26-14 and 9-8 in the league. Maine spotted Albany a 7-0 lead midway through the fourth inning, but began its rally in the bottom of the frame. Ashley Waters and Kristen Calvetti each blasted solo home runs to ignite the rally and pull the Black Bears within 7-2. The fifth inning saw Maine push three more runs across the plate. Senior Kate Joseph started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Albany shortstop Meagan Butsch. Classmate Tara Vilardo followed two batters later with an RBI single to left field, plating Joseph to make it 7-3. Alexis Souhlaris walked to put runners on first and second for Maine, and Waters followed with an RBI single down the left-field line to bring home Vilardo and make it 7-4. Senior Kristie Hawkins followed and lined another single into left field to bring home Souhlaris and make it 7-5 following five innings.
After relief pitcher Jenna Balent put down the Albany side in the top of the seventh, Maine went to work in the bottom of the frame to pull out the victory. Pinch hitter Stephanie George and Vilardo drew leadoff walks to begin the frame to chase Albany starting pitcher Casey Halloran. Leah McIntosh came on in relief and immediately struck out Souhlaris for the inning's first out. Waters followed and smacked a double to the wall in straight-away center field to drive in senior pinch runner Alexis Pullen and Vilardo to knot the score at 7-7. Waters would advance to third with Hawkins at the plate, as she moved up on a passed ball by Albany catcher Kat Smith. Just a few pitches later, McIntosh uncorked a wild pitch which enabled Waters to slide into homeplate to seal the win for the Black Bears.
Balent earned the win for Maine as she pitched four innings of relief, allowing four runs on four hits (all 4 runs coming in the fourth inning), and striking out a pair. She improved to 8-11 on the season. Waters ended the game by going 3-for-4 with four RBI and a pair of runs scored. She batted .400 for the weekend with one homer and five runs batted in. Calvetti's homer marked the second-consecutive game she blasted a home run. Prior to the contest, Maine honored the senior class of Elizabeth Foltz, Hawkins, Joseph, Pullen, Marguerite Soule and Vilardo. Maine also honored the Joseph family and Mr. Alan Joseph, as he led the effort on the renovations done to Kessock Field during the offseason. |
