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Softball Wins 2006 America East Regular Season Championship
May 5, 2006
ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine softball team added to its memorable 2006 season on Friday afternoon by sweeping UMBC in a doubleheader and claiming the America East regular season championship. The Black Bears claimed the program's second conference regular season title and first since 1994 with a 2-1 victory in eight innings in game one, and a 5-0 blanking in game two at Kessock Field. The regular season title ensures that Maine will play host to the conference tournament next weekend in Orono. The one run allowed by Maine on the day came against the nation's No. 1 offense in terms of runs scored per game. UMBC entered the day tops in the country with an average of 7.28 runs a contest. Maine ran its overall record to 35-16 and 16-4 in conference play. It marks the second-consecutive weekend the Black Bears turned in a memorable performance for the home fans, as they broke the school record for wins in a single season last week in a series victory over Binghamton. Friday's doubleheader sweep of the Retrievers also ensured a series victory for Maine, as the Black Bears won all seven series against conference opponents during the regular season. The regular season title for Maine is the third conference championship in program history. In addition to the regular season titles in 1994 and this season, the Black Bears were also crowned the America East Tournament champions in 2004.
The day's first game set the tone for what was to be an exciting afternoon, as Maine pulled it out in extra frames. The Black Bears jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Tara Vilardo (Ticonderoga, N.Y.) scored on an error by UMBC shortstop Dana Shepherd. However, the Retrievers fought back in the fifth with a run to knot the score at 1-1. Carla O'Rourke came in to pinch run for Melanie Denischuk after the batter had drawn a walk to lead off the frame. O'Rourke advanced to second on another walk, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a Stevie Shore infield single.
Maine put runners at second and third with one out in the seventh, but couldn't capitalize on the opportunity and had to go to extra innings. After Sarah Bennis (Pownal, Maine) retired UMBC in the eighth without any problems, the Black Bear offense delivered in its half of the frame. Marguerite Soule (Pepperell, Mass.) drew a leadoff walk and scored later in the inning on the game-winning RBI single to the wall in right field by Ashley Waters (Amesbury, Mass.). Bennis started and turned in a solid performance for Maine by going all eight innings. She yielded just one run on five hits and struck out three. She ran her record to 19-5 on the season and tied the school-record for wins in a single season by a hurler. Redshirt freshman pitcher Jenna Balent (Conifer, Colo.) was just as strong in the day's second game, as she went the distance and allowed just two hits and struck out four. She ran her record to 14-10 with the win. Even more impressive was that Balent issued no base on balls for the third-consecutive start. In her last three outings as a starter, Balent has struck out 24 with no walks. Maine scored all five of its runs in the first two innings. Waters tripled with one out in the first and scored a batter later on Brittany Cheney's (Abington, Mass.) RBI single. Cheney came around to score later in the frame on a pass ball. The Black Bears capped the scoring with a trio of runs in the second. Erin Provost (Peru, N.Y.) drove in the inning's first two runs on a double and scored later in the frame on Cheney's second RBI double of the contest. Cheney had four combined hits on the day to give her 60 for the season. She stands just two hits shy of tying the school record for hits in a season with 62. Maine will close out regular season play on Saturday at Kessock Field. The Black Bears will close out their three-game set with UMBC when they meet at 11 a.m. It will be Senior Day as eight seniors, including Bennis, Provost, Dana Grimm (Coopersville, Mich.), Christina Belmonte (Livermore Falls, Maine), Meagan Ramos (North Berwick, Maine), Molly McKinney (Byron Center, Mich.), Cheney and Amy Kuhl (Phoenix, Ariz.), will be honored before the game. |
