Conference play in softball nears the midway point with three series this weekend. Maine will host Albany, Binghamton visits UMBC and Hartford entertains Boston U. All three series begin Saturday and conclude Sunday.
Albany at Maine
Game 1: Saturday, 12 p.m. -- Live Stats
Game 2: Saturday, 2 p.m. -- Live Stats
Game 3: Sunday, 11 a.m. -- Live Stats
Albany (16-7, 3-0 AE) visits Maine (5-26, 2-1 AE) in the second conference series for each team this weekend. The Great Danes swept Hartford in their first series last weekend, while Maine took two out of three at UMBC two weeks ago.
Albany, winner of 11 straight games, have the conference's best record. The Great Danes have rode their pitching during the streak, most notably Brittany MacFawn, who has allowed just one run on two hits over her last three outings (21 IP) while walking two and fanning 30. Overall, Albany sports a league-best 2.94 team ERA.
Maine, which will play at home for the first time this season, comes in winner of two straight. Sophomore outfielder Jessica Burk paces the Black Bear offense as she leads the team with a .278 mark at the plate with 27 hits.
Binghamton at UMBC -- Live Stats | Live Video (Sunday Only)
Game 1: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, 12 p.m.
Binghamton (12-11, 2-1 AE) visits UMBC (8-25, 1-5 AE) for a three-game set Saturday. The Retrievers will try to snap a four-game losing skid, while the Bearcats look to stay hot, having won eight of their last 11 games.
The game features two of the top lineups in the league Binghamton is hitting a league-best .296 as a team and UMBC falls right behind, hitting .286, which is second in the league.
Taylor Hall paces UMBC is one of just four players in America East batting over .400 on the season, and also sits atop of the conference in RBI (34) and total bases (57). Freshman Lisa Cadogan leads Binghamton is most offensive categories, including batting average (.356), hits (26), doubles (seven), home runs (six) and RBI (22).
Boston U. at Hartford -- Live Stats | Live Video (Saturday Only)
Game 1: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, 12 p.m.
Both Hartford (10-20, 2-4 AE) and Boston U. (10-17-1, 1-2 AE) are looking to bounce back from tough weekends. The Hawks were swept at Albany while the Terriers dropped two of three at Binghamton. Boston U. has dominated the all-time series, going 50-10 against Hartford, including nine straight wins.
Hartford, wich has already matched last season's win total with 23 games left, swept Iona on Thursday. Amber Andrews leads the team hitting .267, while Kate Wacyk's 28 RBI rank among America East leaders. Jayme Mask paces Boston U., hitting .360 which is among the league's best.