ORONO, Maine — Sophomore right-hander Molly Flowers pitched a five-inning no-hitter and freshman third baseman Alyssa Derrick drove in four runs with a homer and two doubles to lead the University of Maine’s softball team to an 8-0 America East victory over UMass Lowell in their home opener at Kessock Field Friday.
The game was called after four and a half innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Maine improved to 13-13 overall, 2-1 in America East, while the River Hawks fell to 5-27 and 0-7, respectively. It was UMass Lowell’s fifth straight loss.
The teams will conclude their series with a Saturday doubleheader starting at noon.
It was Flowers’ second no-hitter of the season as she tossed a seven-inning one against Wisconsin-Green Bay in a 6-0 triumph on March 15 in Clearwater, Florida.
Flowers struck out 11 and walked three, and her mates gave her the only runs she was to need in the first inning when they scored three times. Two of the runs were unearned.
Erika Leonard opened the inning with a triple to right center and, two outs later, Derrick doubled to center to drive her home.
Rachel Harvey walked and scored, along with Derrick, on an outfield error.
Maine added two more runs in the second and third innings and another in the fourth.
In the second, Derrick doubled in a pair of runs after Kristen Niland, Rachel Carlson and Leonard had singled.
In the third, Leonard singled home both runs following a walk, a Felicia Lennon single and a fielder’s choice.
Derrick belted her team-leading seventh home run of the season in the fourth, a solo shot to right.
Leonard complemented Derrick with three hits of her own, including her triple, and she had two RBIs.
Lennon had a pair of singles.
Sydney Wash was the losing pitcher.