Softball Takes Two From Maine For Series Triumph

BOX ONE  I  BOX TWO

ALBANY, N.Y. – Overcoming Maine 5-3 and 7-3 Monday afternoon at Albany Field, the University at Albany softball team clinched the America East Conference series over the Black Bears and improved its record to 15-8 on the season.

In game one, freshman pitcher Erynn Sobieski earned the complete-game win, allowing three runs (two earned) and seven scattered hits, while striking out four.

Offensively, UAlbany totaled nine hits, led by junior Maggie Cocks' (2-for-4) and Liz Snow's (2-for-3, 3 RBI) two-hit efforts.

Serving as the visitors despite playing at home, the Great Danes jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the top of the first, stringing together four straight hits. Alexa Toole got the rally going with a single through the left side, Cocks singled to center, and Snow brought both runners in with a double down the left field line. Senior Marlin Solano followed with a single to center, plating Snow for a three-run head start.

In the bottom of the third, Maine broke onto the board with two unearned runs on two outs.  After an error, the Black Bears knocked three straight singles, cutting the margin to one, 3-2.

However, the Great Danes got the runs back in the fifth, as Cocks ripped a double to right and Snow followed with a an RBI triple to the centerfield gap. Snow scored on an error, giving UAlbany a 5-2 advantage,

While Maine added a run in the bottom half of the frame, on a single and an RBI double, Sobieski held the Black Bears off from there.

Maine's Molly Flowers (3-4) took the loss, charged with five runs and seven hits in the opening five innings.

In the nightcap, UAlbany broke a 3-3 stalemate with four runs in the top of the fifth inning to clinch the series victory.

In the top of the first, the Danes took a 1-0 lead, as Cocks lined a two out single up the middle and scored on a dropped fly ball to right. However, Maine responded immediately with a run in the bottom of the inning, drawing a pair of walks and scoring on a passed ball.

UAlbany reclaimed the lead, scoring one run in the third on Lindsey Haskell's leadoff home run, and one in the fourth, as Cocks ripped a leadoff double and scored on Kelly Costello's RBI triple.

However, Maine evened the score again on Jessica Burk's two run home run in the bottom of the fourth.

That would be the Black Bears' final run, and the Danes' offense took care of the rest in the fifth, rallying for four straight knocks. Vicky McFarland sparked the two-out rally with an infield single and Toole followed with an RBI double to left, plating the go-ahead run. From there, Cocks recorded her third hit of the game and Snow capped the inning with a two-run blast.

In the circle, freshman Devin Durando (8-2) earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) and two hits, while striking out five. Out of the pen, Mackenzie Thompson threw three hitless frames to end the game, picking up the save.

For Maine, Alexis Bogdanovich (7-4) took the loss, allowing seven runs (six earned) and eight hits, while striking out six.

Offensively, UAlbany totaled eight hits piloted by Cocks' 3-for-3 performance with an RBI and three runs scored.

Up next, the Great Danes host Bryant University on Tuesday for a 3:30 p.m. clash at Albany Field.