The Black Bears men’s baseball were back in conference action on Saturday, dropping both games of a doubleheader to Binghamton University in Vestal, New York.
Binghamton struck first in game one. With one out in the bottom of the second, third-year catcher Jason Agresti was hit by a pitch and first-year second baseman Justin Drpich followed with a single. Third-year designated hitter Pat Britt followed up with a double, plating Agresti and giving the Bearcats a 1-0.
Maine would answer back in the fourth. Fourth-year right fielder Tyler Schwanz drew a one walk, then advanced to third on a double by third-year designated hitter Jonathan Bennett. Third-year center fielder Brandon Vicens grounded a single through the left side, plating Schwanz and tying the game at 1-1. First-year first baseman Hernen Sardinas, followed with another double to plate Bennett and give the Black Bears a 2-1 lead. That would be all for Maine in this inning, as Vicens would be gunned down at the plate, trying to score on a flyout by second-year second baseman Caleb Kerbs.
Binghamton came back in the bottom half of the inning. First-year shortstop Greg Satriale looped a one out single to left, then Herncane walked. Krowiak followed with a double to plate Satriale and tie the game at 2-2.
Herncane would come home on a flyout to give the Bearcats the 3-2 lead, but the scoring was not finished. Second-year third baseman Justin Yurchak would add to the lead with a two-run homer, his first of the season, making the score 5-2.
Binghamton would strike again in the sixth. Herncane led off with a walk, then stole second with one out. A single by Yurchak plated him and gave the Bearcats a 6-2 lead. Fourth-year first baseman Brendan Skidmore then hit a two run shot, also his first of the season, to make the lead 8-2 Binghamton.
Maine would cut into the deficit in the seventh. Second-year shortstop Jeremy Pena poked a one out single, followed by a walk to second-year left fielder Colin Ridley. Third-year catcher Christopher Bec loaded the bases with another single. Schwanz drew a walk to force Pena home, making the score 8-3 Binghamton.
The Bearcats would answer right back in the bottom of the seventh. Drpich launched his first homer of the season, a solo shot to give the Bearcats a 9-3 lead. The game would end at that score.
Third-year right hander Justin Courtney (4-4) got the start for the Black Bears, giving up five earned runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts to get hung with the loss. Second-year right hander Nick Gallagher (5-1) picked up the win for Binghamton, giving up two earned runs on six hits while walking three and striking out three.
Black Bears unable to split doubleheader with Binghamton
The Black Bears were unable to split the doubleheader, dropping game two to Binghamton University 7-4 on Saturday in Vestal, New York.
Maine would strike first in the first inning. Pena led off the game with a single, then stole second with one out. Schwanz would reach on an error with two outs, allowing Pena to come home and give the Black Bears a 1-0 lead.
Binghamton would strike back in the bottom of the first. Krowiak led off with a triple. Fourth-year right fielder Eddie Posavec was hit by a pitch, then Yurchak walked to load the bases. Skidmore flew out to left field, moving every runner up and plating Krowiak to knot the game at 1-1. Drpich then laced a single into right, plating two and giving the Bearcats a 3-1 lead.
Command issues plagued Maine’s starting pitcher, third-year right hander John Arel. He walked first-year shortstop Greg Satriale, fourth-year left fielder Darian Herncane, and Krowiak in succession, while chucking a wild pitch to move Satriale and Herncane into scoring position. The walk to Krowiak would be the end of the line for Arel, as second-year right hander Nick Silva came into the game in relief. That is when the Bearcats struck. Posavec lined out to right, plating Satriale and extending the lead to 4-1 Binghamton. Silva would stop any chance of a rally, easily retiring the next two batters.
Maine would answer back in the top half of the fifth. After a strikeout to begin the inning, first-year third baseman Cody Pasic launched his first homer of the season. The solo blast would cut into the deficit, making the score 4-2 Binghamton.
The Bearcats would add to the lead in the bottom of the sixth, in what was a double trouble inning for Silva. Drpich led off with a double, eventually moving over to third with two outs. A wild pitch plated Drpich and extended the Binghamton lead to 5-2. Herncane drew a walk, then stole second. Krowiak laced a double to left to plate Herncane and run the score to 6-2. Another double off the bat of Posavec plated Krowiak, giving the Bearcats a 7-2 lead.
Maine would try to stage a comeback in the top of the seventh. Kerbs drew a walk to lead off the inning, followed by a single off the bat of Pasic. After a foul out by Pena moved Kerbs to third and a strikeout led to two outs, the Black Bears found a little life. Bec drew a walk to load the bases, and Schwanz would coax another walk to make the score 7-3. Bennett reached on an error by Yurchak, making the score 7-4. A fielder’s choice would eventually end the threat.
Arel was finished after 1 inning of work, giving up four runs on two hits with four walks and only one strikeout, taking the loss and dropping his record to 1-1. Silva went five innings of work, giving up three runs on four hits while walking one and striking out five. Third-year left hander Nick Wegman (3-3) went five innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
The Black Bears road woes continue, falling to 1-13 away from Mahaney Diamond. They hope to turn things around on Sunday for their finale.
