UM softball team ready to open Kessock Field

The University of Maine softball team couldn’t be trying out its new home field at a better time, or against a tougher foe.

Boston University, which UMaine faces in its home opener at recently completed Kessock Field, has won 13 straight games and shares the America East lead with Delaware by virtue of a 10-2 record.

The Bears are in fourth place at 19-14 (6-6 in America East), having won eight of their last 11 games, but first-year coach Deb Smith said signs of change have recently been showing on offense and defense.

“We were severely lacking on defense when we came out of Florida. That was a bit of a surprise,” Smith said. “[Lately] we’ve been getting great production from [pitchers] Carrie [Green] and Ashley [Yuhas].”

UMaine president Peter Hoff, athletic director Sue Tyler and benefactor Mike Kessock are expected to be on hand when the field is dedicated prior to Saturday’s 11 a.m. doubleheader.

Thursday was the first day the Bears practiced on their new field. Smith said the fact the field is foreign to them makes no difference. It will still be home. And for a team that has played 33 straight games on the road, that will be an advantage.

UMaine assistant athletic director Jim Dyer explained the first part of the planned two-phase facility project has been completed at Kessock Field. It features underground irrigation, a fence with a wind screen, shrubs around the outfield fence, in-ground dugouts, a scoreboard, bullpens and batting cages.

The rest of the work, which includes seating, a press box, a concession area, storage and lights, can’t be undertaken until the money is raised to fund the project.

With the Bears hitting .264 as a team, Smith said they’re still struggling on offense, although the leadership is there. Senior captain Sara Jewett, who has a .438 batting average, set the America East record for homers in a season last Saturday, hitting two against Towson to give her 13. The record was previously held by Dana Bennet of Hofstra, who hit 10 last year.

Jewett, who is ranked second in the nation in homers, has a piece of the NCAA record for homers in a game after hitting three against Hartford on April 30, 1999.

But don’t go calling Jewett “Mac” just yet. She’s a ways off from the NCAA record for homers in a season (37). Though she is on pace to make her school record of homers in a season and a career (29 to date) hard to touch.

“She’s a lot more disciplined. She’s making the pitchers think about it because she’s swinging the bat so well,” Smith said. “Right now, she’s not trying to hit the long ball, but her swing is so nice it’s coming from that. She’s relaxing and swinging the bat the way you’re suppose to.”

Since Maine won three of four at Hartford a week ago, Smith said the Bears’ starting two pitchers are beginning to show more consistency, which would go a long way toward helping UMaine hold onto the fourth and final playoff spot.

“Carrie is throwing drops, hitting her corners, and Ashley is coming around,” Smith said. “She was giving up too many base hits after two strikes, letting too many people on base. She was trying to do too much. She seems to have had a breakthrough.”

Green has a 10-5 record and 2.39 ERA, while Yuhas is now 8-7 with a 2.39 ERA after winning two at Towson last weekend.

BU’s throwers will challenge UMaine’s junior and freshman duo. Robyn Horrick is ranked 23rd in the nation with a 0.81 ERA, while America East Player of the Week Robyn King (10-3, 1.24) recently pitched a one-hitter against Hartford in which she recorded a career-high 17 strikeouts.

“The BU pitchers will toy with them,” Smith said. “They’ll mix things up. We have to take the rise ball away. If we allow them to throw it against us, we’ll struggle.”