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Softball Set to Host Big Weekend Series with UMBC
April 29, 2008
ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine softball team will play host to UMBC in a huge three-game series this weekend at Mike Kessock Field in Orono. The winner of the series will earn a playoff spot in the America East Championship, which will be held May 8-10 at the site of the regular season champion. The top four teams in the league standings following the regular season advance to the championship. The Black Bears (11-36, 10-8 AE) are looking to earn a spot in the league playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years. Maine enters this weekend's series (DH on Saturday at 12 p.m.; single game on Sunday at 11 a.m.) with a 10-8 mark in conference play, and is one game ahead of the Retrievers (20-26, 9-9 AE) for fourth place in the league standings. The Black Bears are fresh off winning their series at Hartford this past weekend, while UMBC dropped two-of-three games at Vermont. Maine has gone 11-8 in its last 19 games and its offense has been a big reason why the Black Bears were able shake off a slow start and now compete for a playoff spot. Maine has blasted 36 home runs this season, which is the new school record for blasts in a single season. The old mark of 32 was set by the 2000 team. The Black Bears are also leading America East in hitting in conference games with a .308 mark. The Black Bear offense is led by Ashley Waters, who is having a stellar offensive offensive season. She leads the league in slugging percentage (.624), hits (55), home runs (10) and total bases (98). In addition to leading America East in those categories, she also ranks in the top 10 in the conference in batting average (5th, .350), runs scored (3rd, 33), runs batted in (2nd, 30), doubles (T-2nd, 11), total plate appearances (4th, 171) and at-bats (2nd, 157). She is also batting .403 in conference games.
Following Waters is a pair of Black Bears (Alexis Souhlaris and Terren Hall) who have each smacked eight homers this year. Souhlaris, who was named to the All-America East First-Team last season as a freshman, shook off a slow offensive start this season and is currently batting .296 with 17 RBI and a slugging percentage of .463. Hall, a freshman third baseman, has stepped in and provided a nice power bat to the lineup. In addition to her eight homers, she has also blasted nine doubles and driven in 29 runs. Both players' home run totals are good for second place in the league standings.
Sophomore outfielder Whitney Spangler has proven to be a consistent hitter in the lineup for the second-straight season. The utility player, who was named to the All-America East Second-Team last season, has posted a strong .297 average this season with four doubles, one triple, two homers and 22 RBI. Sophomore shortstop Kristen Calvetti has also provided a power surge to the lineup, as she is hitting .296 with three home runs and 21 RBI. Calvetti sparked Maine's offensive surge in Sunday's 12-1 win at Hartford with a grand slam. Maine's pitching staff has been bolstered by the strong pitching recently of Jenna Balent. She started all three games of this weekend's series at Hartford and posted a 2-1 record with a 1.50 earned run average. Balent yielded just three runs on 17 hits over 19 innings of work against the Hawks. During the past month, she has raised her win total and lowered her ERA to a solid 3.79. Admission is FREE for all games played at Mike Kessock Field. For more information on Maine softball, please visit the team's page at www.GoBlackBears.com(.) |
