Softball Falls To Maine For First Loss In America East Tournament, 7-4

BOX SCORE  I  CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

VESTAL, N.Y. – The University at Albany softball team suffered its first loss of the America East Tournament Thursday, slipping 7-4 to the University of Maine (26-19). With the defeat, the Great Danes fell to 32-17 on the season and will now play Stony Brook in an elimination game Friday at 1:30 p.m.

“There were too many wasted opportunities during the game,” said Head Coach Chris Cannata. “We left a ton of people on base and we couldn't get a big hit when we needed one. Now we just need to show some fight and battle back tomorrow and just take it one game at a time.”

In the contest, UAlbany left 11 runners on, recording four hits, while drawing eight walks.

In the top of the first, the Great Danes took a 2-0 lead, as senior Kelly Costello and junior Liz Snow were each hit by a pitch, and sophomore Donna Conrad, junior Mackenzie Cleary, and freshman Chelsea Henige drew three consecutive walks off Maine starter Molly Flowers.

However, the Black Bears took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together five straight hits, capped by pinch hitter Maddie Decker's three-run home run over the left field wall for a 5-2 advantage.

In the fifth, Maine added two more runs as Felicia Lennon knocked an RBI triple to right and scored on an error on the play for a 7-2 lead.

UAlbany looked to rally in the top of the sixth, loading the bases on a pair of walks and an error. Senior Maggie Cocks drew an RBI walk with two outs to cut the margin to four, 7-3. However, fresh from the bullpen, Maine reliever Erin Bogdanovich was able to escape the bases load jam unharmed, forcing a groundout to end the side.

In the seventh, Cleary ripped a double to left-centerfield  and scored on Caitlin Cooper's two-out single through the right side. But that would be UAlbany's final run of the ballgame, as Bogdanovich recorded a strikeout to end the game.

Flowers (11-10) earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) and two hits, while striking out four in 5.2 innings. Bogdanovich picked up the save, tossing the final 1.1 frames.

For the Danes, freshman Celeste Verdolivo (14-7) took the loss, charged with seven runs (six earned) and nine hits, striking out two in five innings of work. Cooper came out of the pen in the sixth and recorded the final three outs.  

The Great Danes will now play No. 4 Stony Brook who topped UMBC in an elimination game Thursday evening.