GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Erica Sobel belted a three-run home run to highlight a four-run eighth inning Sunday that carried the UMaine Black Bears to a 5-4 softball victory over Samford (Ala.) in the consolation game of the University of Florida Tournament.

On Saturday, Samford edged UMaine 3-1 and Florida squeaked past the Bears 1-0 in nine innings.

In the consolation game, Jessica Brady hit two singles for the winners behind Jennifer Merchant, who went the distance for the 12-14 Black Bears, scattering 10 hits.

Kelly Smith and Mindy Shunnarah singled twice each for Samford.

Host Florida University knocked off No. 25 Wisconsin 3-1 to win the tourney.

In Saturday’s first game, Mindy Shunnarah, Michelle Dickey, and Tammy Stevens each knocked in a run Saturday as Samford edged the Black Bears.

Candace Jaegge went the distance for Maine, scattering eight hits. Jessica Brady knocked in a run.

In Saturday’s second game, Andrea Zimbardi knocked home the winning run to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the ninth inning and propel the Gators past the Bears in the University of Florida Tournament.

Jennifer Merchant gave up eight hits over 8 1/3 for the Bears, who received a double and two singles from Erica Sobel and two singles from Aliesha Rautenberg.

(Saturday’s First Game)

Samford 010 000 2 – 3 8 1

Maine 001 000 0 – 1 5 1

Landsburg and BeChark; Jaegge and Tibbetts

(Saturday’s Second Game)

Maine 000 000 000 – 0 7 0

Florida 000 000 001 – 1 5 0

Merchant and Bain; Schuerman, Moore (9), and Berger

(Sunday’s Consolation Game)

Maine (12-14) 010 000 04 – 5 9 0

Samford (14-14) 000 010 03 – 4 10 0

Merchant and Bain; Landsburg and Bednark

Caldwell sweeps Saint Joseph’s

At Caldwell, N.J., Saint Joseph’s of Standish committed 10 errors Saturday as Caldwell University posted a doubleheader sweep of the Monks.

Caldwell won the opener 4-3, then took the nightcap 11-1.

In the first game, three Monk errors and a single by winning pitcher Corrine Reiser, gave Caldwell the victory.

Kelly Premo smacked a solo home run, a double and two singles for the Monks. Kristen Gaudette scattered seven hits and four runs 6 1/3 innings.

In the second game, Marcia Chapman allowed seven hits in five innings. Corinne Reiser led the winners with two singles and three RBIs.

Sarah Ouellette singled twice for Saint Joseph’s.

(Saturday’s First Game)

Saint Joseph’s 101 010 0 – 3 7 6

Caldwell 201 000 1 – 4 7 2

Gaudette, Ferguson (7) and Picard; Reiser and Guerra

(Saturday’s Second Game)

Saint Joseph’s 000 01 – 1 7 4

Caldwell 641 0x – 11 11 2

Regan, Oiser (3) and Picard; Chapin and Guerra

Southern Maine 13, Suffolk 2

At Cape Coral, Fla., the University of Southern Maine guaranteed its best start since 1987 with Saturday victories over Suffolk, SUNY-Fredonia and Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

The Huskies topped Suffolk 13-2, blanked SUNY-Fredonia 9-0 and edged Wis.-Stevens Point 5-4 to improve to 6-1.

In Game 1, Darci Holland went 3-for-3 with a homer and two singles, drove in two runs and scored three as the Huskies rolled.

Sunshine Anders hit two homers for 4-1 Southern Maine and drove in four runs.

In the second game, Sarah McLean blasted a two-run homer to open the scoring Saturday as the Huskies cruised.

Jessie Becher and Natasha Jackson each added a two-run single for USM behind Kari Vance and Jodie Eldridge, who combined on a three-hitter.

In the nightcap, Anders scored the game-winning run on a double steal in the eighth inning for the Huskies.

Sarah McLean and Jamie Wood each singled twice for USM.

(Saturday’s First Game)

Suffolk 001 10 – 2 4 1

Southern Maine 071 5x – 13 11 1

Pagel and Schibler; Sobey, Vance (4) and Fulton

(Saturday’s Second Game)

SUNY-Fredonia 000 00 – 0 3 2

Southern Maine 222 3x – 9 8 0

Peters and Adams; Vance, Eldridge (5) and Heath

(Saturday’s Third Game)

Southern Maine 103 000 01 – 5 9 2

Wisc.-Stevens Point 202 000 00 – 4 7 2

Eldridge, Henderson (4) and Heath; Guckenberger and Karls

Baseball

Dominican 2, Husson 0

At Orangeburg, N.Y., Kyle Mathieu singled twice Saturday to lead Husson College of Bangor, but Dominican starting pitcher Luis Berome struck out five and walked none in seven innings to get the win.

Husson drops to 2-10 on the season with doubleheaders coming up Friday and Saturday against Fisher College (Mass.).

The game was scheduled as a doubleheader, but switched to one, nine-inning game due to poor field conditions.

Husson (2-10) 000 000 00 – 0 7 1

Dominican (6-5-1) 001 100 0x – 2 4 0

Dostie, T. Reynolds (3), Simmons (5), Dionne (7) and Worcester; Barone, Jones (8) and Martinez

Southern Maine 13, Trinity 1

At Fort Myers, Fla., Derek Meader and Andy Lang each smacked three hits and knocked in two runs Saturday to spark the Huskies.

Adam Lemieux and Pat McDonough combined on a four-hitter in seven innings for 4-1 Southern Maine. Brian Marshall added an RBI single.

Southern Maine 402 002 5 -13 14 1

Trinity 001 000 0 – 1 4 3

Lemieux, McDonough (7) and L’Italien; Baylis, Olewnik (7) and Dolliver

Trinity 18, Southern Maine 1

At Fort Myers, Fla., Greg Spanos, Mark Mahoney and Alan Andreini each belted three hits Saturday as the 7-3 Bantams rolled.

Brian Marshall singled home Colin Loveless for the 4-2 Huskies’ lone run.

Trinity 001 372 5 -18 20 0

Southern Maine 100 000 0 – 1 8 2

Tidmarsh and O’Shaughnessy; Hutchings, McDonough (5), Boileau (5), Drapeau (5), and Melanson

Track & field

UMaine athletes perform well

At Piscataway, N.J., the University of Maine men’s and women’s track and field teams both had strong showings at the Rutgers Invitational Track & Field meet Saturday. Although no team scores were kept, both the Maine men and women had a number of athletes finish in top spots.

Junior Viktoriya Rybalko picked up where she left off in the indoor season with a first place in the long jump, a second in the 100 and a first as part of the 400-meter relay team.

Maine’s Claire Poliquin won the women’s high jump while Danielle Donovan (second, 1500), Katherine Page (third, discus and shot put), Julie Williams (third, hammer throw) and Vanessa Allen (third, 5000) notched top finishes.

Brett McIntire took first in the men’s long jump, second in the 100 and ran a leg on the 400 relay. Scott Minkowsky won the 800 while Robert Liguori, Adam Libby and Marsh Gray took second, third, and fourth in the 400.

Maine owned the 1500 with Gabe Rivard, Ed Caron, Joey Luchini and Nolan Tobey finishing first though fourth, respectively. Andrew Goupee, Ed Van Tassel and Adam Goode finished one, two and three in the 10,000 while Justin Maloney took second in the 5,000.