April 12, 2003

Box Score

ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine softball team swept a pair of games from Stony Brook University on Saturday afternoon at Kessock Field in Orono, Maine. Maine took the first game 1-0 and followed that up with a 6-2 win in game two. The Black Bears improve to 13-13 on the season and 2-2 in America East play with the wins while Stony Brook falls to 14-20 and 4-4 in America East play.

In the first game, Jess Brady led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple to right field. Brittany Cheney singled to center field and drove in Brady for the lone run of the game. Neither team was able to push across a run the rest of the game. Cheney went 2-for-3 at the plate in the game.

Jenna Merchant pitched her 12th complete game of the season and improves to 6-7 on the year. She scattered four hits over seven innings while striking out three batter. She also went 2-for-2 at the plate.

Stony Brook recorded just four hits on the afternoon. Angela Andrews (Phelan, Calif.) pitched the complete game for the Seawolves and falls to 8-12 on the season. She allowed one run on six hits while striking out three batters.

In the second game, the Black Bears once again jumped out to an early lead. Amy Kuhl doubled to center field to lead off the second inning and scored when Sarah Bennis grounded out to second base.

Maine added three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Brady led off the inning with a single to right field. Lauren Dulkis advanced Brady to second on a sacrifice bunt and Cheney followed with a RBI single to center field.

Molly McKinney singled to right field and Cheney advanced to third. McKinney stole second base and when Stony Brook catcher Stephanie McCarthy threw to second, Cheney stole home. Kuhl drove home McKinney with an RBI single.

Stony Brook cut the Maine lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning. Stephanie McCarthy led off the inning with a home run to left field. Stephanie DiBiase followed with a single to center field and scored the second run of the game for the Seawolves when Kristen Brust drove her home with a RBI single.

The Black Bears capped the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Merchant led off the inning with a single to right center. Sara Asadoorian reached on a fielders choice to give the Black Bears two baserunners. Dulkis cleared the bases with a double down the right field line.

Bennis pitched five innings for the Black Bears and picked up her sixth win of the season as she improved to 6-5. She scattered five hits and allowed two runs while striking out two. Merchant pitched the final two innings to earn her second save of the season. Jessica Paparella pitched two and a third innings for Stony Brook and falls to 6-8 on the season. Amanda Cavitt replaced Paparella in the third inning.

Maine and Stony Brook return to action on Sunday, April 13 when they play a doubleheader beginning at noon at Kessock Field in Orono, Maine.