Black Bears’ Bennis familiar with pressure UMaine pitcher, players have faith in each other

The University of Maine softball team didn’t make it easy for itself en route to the America East title. And Sarah Bennis knows all about pressure situations.

That’s because the Black Bears haven’t been generous with run support when Bennis has been in the circle.

So when the Bears were down 1-0 to BU late in Saturday’s America East championship game, was she worried?

“This team has come back before, and they’ve done amazing in the past couple of games,” she said moments after earning the 2-1 win. “I had faith in them.”

And the Bears had faith in her. Bennis came up with six key outs in the final two innings – she retired 14 in a row – and allowed just two hits in the 2-1 victory over the Terriers.

“Sarah was clutch for us,” Maine coach Deb Smith said. “She did such a nice job Friday to come in and, today, she did everything she had to do. She controlled their hitters. We needed to keep them off base, especially at the tail end when they had the heart of their lineup coming up. She just let her offense work.”

The Pownal native will take her 1.52 earned run average and 111 strikeouts into an NCAA regional game against California Thursday at 6:30 p.m. EST. The Golden Bears are the top seed in the regional at Lincoln, Neb., and are ranked second in the nation, according to the USA Today/NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) poll.

In addition to the championship game, Bennis also earned a win in relief of starter Jenna Merchant Friday and relieved Merchant again in Saturday’s first game.

Bennis didn’t allow an earned run in her three appearances, giving up just nine hits and two runs while striking out 12 and walking four.

The former Greely High of Cumberland Center basketball and softball standout pitched a two-hitter for a win in the Class B 2002 state softball championship. That was a close game, too, a 1-0 victory over Erskine of South China.

Bennis’ two wins were key for Maine, but BU pitcher Ashlee Freeman had the grittiest performance of the three-day tournament. She earned a 3-0 record, pitched 24 1/3 innings in four appearances, gave up 24 hits and six runs (four earned) for a 1.15 ERA.

And all that with an injury.

BU coach Amy Hayes said Freeman suffered a slight concussion Wednesday after she was hit in the head with a ball during practice. Freeman was named to the all-tournament team.

Maine, BU rivalry strong

Few of the Black Bears would admit it after they advanced to the America East final with a 7-4 win over Stony Brook Friday, but they were quite eager to face Boston University in the championship game.

That’s because BU bumped out Maine in last year’s tourney, trouncing the Black Bears 19-6. Then the Terriers beat the Bears 8-3 while both teams were on their spring trips to Florida, although that game didn’t count in the America East standings.

Maine split a countable doubleheader with BU winning the opener 3-0 and the Bears taking the nightcap 2-0 in 10 innings.

Maine and BU also squared off in the America East women’s soccer final (the Terriers won 3-2 on penalty kicks) and the women’s basketball championship (a 68-43 Maine victory).

BU softball coach Hayes was understanding about Maine’s drive to beat the two-time defending champion Terriers.

“They were unfortunately on the receiving end of us being upset [after a loss in last year’s tourney],” she said Saturday of the 19-6 win in 2003. “It had nothing to do with Maine, it was just us digging deep and hitting the ball well. So I’m glad they got one back on us, even if it was a big one. I wish them well.”