Even before the University of Maine softball team left on its spring trip in February, Black Bears coach Stacey Sullivan said she felt pitcher Jenna Balent would be key to Maine’s prospects this season.

Sullivan’s prediction has come true.

Maine took two of three from Binghamton last weekend, including a program-best 33rd victory – and with a 14-4 record the Bears are close to sewing up the No. 1 seed for the America East tournament. Meanwhile, Balent’s earned run average dropped to a conference-low 1.34 – good for 37th in the most recent NCAA Div. I rankings – to go with a 13-10 record.

She went 1-1 in her two starts last weekend against Binghamton but didn’t allow an earned run or a walk and gave up just six hits while striking out 20.

Balent has allowed 29 earned runs – the fewest in the league – in 152 innings. Opponents are batting just .195 against her, which is second lowest in America East.

And her ERA in conference games is only 0.34.

“This kid has to be the most underrated player in the conference,” Sullivan said. “[Compared to] most of the premier pitchers to have gone through this program, JB is way above them as a freshman. This kid’s definitely getting it done.”

Balent, who is from Conifer, Colo., is a redshirt freshman. She played in three games last year before coming down with mononucleosis.

That means most of the veterans in the conference haven’t faced her as often as they have senior teammate Sarah Bennis, who picked up her 18th win on Saturday.

“It’s to my advantage because they don’t know what’s coming,” Balent said. “But that just means I have to work 10 times harder because they’ll figure it out.”

It won’t get any easier this weekend as the Black Bears will host University of Maryland Baltimore County, an offensive powerhouse ranked fourth in the most recent NCAA standings.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Balent said. “I like the challenge.”

Maine is battling with Albany for the America East regular-season championship and the right to host the conference tournament. The winner gains the league’s automatic berth into an NCAA regional.

Bennis rebounding from injury

For a pitcher, getting hit by the occasional ball back to the mound or circle is just one of the hazards that comes with playing the position. UMaine’s Sarah Bennis recently had a scary injury after a ball hit back to the circle, but she has rebounded well.

During a practice the day before the Black Bears left for a three-game series against Hartford in Connecticut, Bennis was pitching to teammate Erin Provost, who hit a line drive back at Bennis. The ball hit the pitcher on the right side of her neck.

“[Provost] felt real bad, but what are you gonna do?” said Bennis, a Pownal native. “I pitch to them all the time and it happens. I get hit all the time.”

Although the injury hasn’t kept Bennis from pitching – she has picked up three wins in four starts since the incident – she said her neck still feels tight when she pitches.

In her two starts against Hartford, Bennis threw four innings with Jenna Balent closing. Her limited innings were a precaution against further injury.

“It’s much better now,” Bennis said. “I still don’t feel 100 percent, but you battle through.”

Although Bennis’ ERA went up a bit this weekend to 1.91, she’s still ranked third in America East. Maine pitchers have combined for a league-low 1.76 team ERA.