BALTIMORE - The University of Maine softball team was one win away from reaching the America East Championship game before falling to No. 3 Albany, 5-3.

No. 6 Maine had won three straight elimination games, knocking out No. 5 Bryant on Wednesday after falling to Albany in round one. On Thursday, Maine eliminated No. 4 UMass Lowell, and then sent No. 2 Binghamton packing in their first contest on Friday.

That game was tied 3-3 in the sixth before Grace McGouldrick homered to give Maine a 6-3 lead and a 6-4 victory.

In the semifinal game against the Great Danes, Maine struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Albany would tie and take the lead in the bottom of the frame.

The Black Bears tied things at two runs apiece, before a 2-RBI single from Albany in the fourth made it a 4-2 ballgame. Jasmine Gray hit her second home run of the tournament to bring Maine within one, 4-3, but it was the closest they'd get. A Krista Francia line-drive was nabbed by the Great Danes in the bottom of the seventh to end the game and Maine's season by a final of 5-3/

Sports Director

Tyler Krusz joined the ABC7 and Fox 22 team in October of 2021 and is looking forward to telling all of our local athletes’ stories! Tyler, a native Rhode Islander, graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2020 with degrees in Journalism and Political Science. During his time there, he enjoyed covering all of the D1 sports the University had to offer, including a few football games against the University of Maine! Tyler worked with the school’s radio station and newspaper, while interning with sports radio host Andy Gresh and the sports department at Fox Providence. After college, Tyler worked as a news anchor and a sports anchor for WBKB11 News in Alpena, Michigan and is excited to come back to New England -- just hours away from his family. When he’s not talking about sports, Tyler enjoys golfing and playing softball (because his baseball days have passed). He also loves to fish, cook, and spend time outdoors any way he can. Feel free to contact Tyler at tkrusz@wvii.com or follow him on Twitter @TylerKruszTV.

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