BANGOR – The University of Maine scored eight runs in the top of the first inning Thursday and never stopped rolling to a 19-1 baseball victory over Division III neighbor Husson College.

Jarrett Lukas belted two of Maine’s five home runs. Billy Cather, Matt Howard and Tony Patane also went deep for the Black Bears (10-13-1). Patane was 4-for-6 with five RBIs and four runs scored. Kevin McAvoy and Danny Menendez each added three of Maine’s 19 hits.

Softball

USM sweeps

STANDISH – The University of Southern Maine softball team pounded out 19 hits over two games to sweep Salem State, 8-7 and 12-2, in a non-conference doubleheader played at the Saint Joseph’s College field Thursday afternoon.

Southern Maine (8-10) scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to swipe the win in the opener. India Lowe’s third hit of the game was the key stroke of the inning, with Sabrina Mills and Lowe scoring the tying and winning runs on an error. Sarah Deroche earned the win to improve to 3-0 on the season entering the game in relief of sophomore starter Larissa O’Connor of Farmington. In the second game, USM stroked 12 hits, including a three-run home run by Anita Dixon.

Thomas, UNE split

BIDDEFORD – Ashley DePasquale stroked a one-out single down the third base line to score Katie Carroll in the bottom of the seventh, giving the University of New England a 3-2 come-from-behind softball victory over Thomas College in the second game of a doubleheader Thursday afternoon.

Brittany Morin and Kim Denbow each had two hits and two RBIs as the Terriers took a 4-3 win in the first game. Chelsea Cummings of Oxford and Lewiston’s Katie Morin had two hits apiece in the opener for the Nor’easters (8-8). Morin knocked in two runs with a double in the first.