The University of Maine baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon before dropping the rubber game Sunday at America East foe Binghamton University. The Black Bears fall to 14-19 on the season and 5-5 in conference play while the Bearcats improve their record to 10-19 and 4-8 in conference.
UMaine will travel to the College of the Holy Cross Tuesday for a single game before hosting the New York Institute of Technology for three games this weekend. Binghamton travels to Cornell University on Tuesday and St. Bonaventure University on Thursday before hosting Hartford University next weekend for a two-game series.
UMaine splits Saturday doubleheader
The Black Bears took the first game of the series by a score of 3-0. Junior ace and reigning America East Pitcher of the Year Tommy Lawrence pitched a gem, going nine strong innings and striking out seven to even up his record at 4-4.
The first contest was a pitcher’s duel between Lawrence and Binghamton junior Jack Rogalla. Rogalla went 7 andtwo-thirds innings, allowing two earned runs and walking four and drops to 3-5 on the season with the loss.
Binghamton’s best opportunity to score came in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore first baseman Reed Gamanche singled to center and was advanced to second on a fielder’s choice. Sophomore third baseman David Schanz singled through the right side, moving Reed to third. Lawrence settled down on the mound, striking out freshman catcher Eddie Posavec and inducing a lineout to third, ending the threat.
UMaine senior third baseman Alex Calbick led off the eighth inning with his second home run of the season over the right field fence. Junior right fielder Brian Doran followed him up with a walk and was moved to second thanks to a single from junior first baseman Nick Bernardo.
Sophomore catcher Jonathan Salcedo singled to left field, scoring Doran to give the Black Bears a 2-0 advantage. Binghamton freshman Justin Pugh relieved Rogalla, striking out UMaine sophomore Shane Bussey to end the inning.
The Black Bears tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth when senior second baseman Troy Black reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. Following a Calbick walk, junior designated hitter Scott Heath singled home Black to ensure the Black Bear victory.
Binghamton’s offense was sparked in the night cap by senior center fielder Shaun McGraw and Gamanche, who each drove in a pair of runs.
Binghamton junior right fielder Zach Blanden led off the bottom of the first with a double to right field and advanced to third when senior center fielder Bill Beresznlewicz singled up the middle. Junior left fielder Jake Thomas singled through the left side, scoring Blanden for an early 1-0 Bearcat advantage.
Black tied it up with one swing of the bat in the top of the third, hitting a solo home run to right field with two outs. The dinger was his first of the season.
Binghamton wasted no time responding when, in the bottom of the third, McGraw doubled to left field and knocked in Beresznlewicz. Gamanche hit a double of his own to left that scored McGraw and Thomas, chasing UMaine senior starter Shaun Coughlin from the game in favor of junior Luke Morrill. Coughlin was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs in 2 andone-third innings on the mound.
The Bearcats tacked on three more in the fifth when Thomas walked, stole second and scored on a McGraw double down the left field line. Gamanche walked and advanced to second while McGraw moved to third on a fielder’s choice.
Morrill was pulled after the fielder’s choice and was replaced by junior Steve Trask. Schanz greeted Trask with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring McGraw and moving Reed to third. Freshman catcher Eddie Posavec followed him up with a double to left, scoring Gamanche to push the Bearcat lead to six.
The Black Bears left two on in the top of the seventh. Scott led off with a walk and Doran singled to right field to put runners at first and second, but both were left on when Bernardo struck out and the last two batters flied out to give Binghamton the 7-1 victory.
Binghamton junior starter Mike Urbanski was awarded the win, improving his record to 3-1 on the season. He went four innings, giving up three hits and one run. Junior reliever Greg Ostner threw the last three innings and picked up his second save of the season.
Thomas’ 6 RBI gives Bearcats Sunday finale
UMaine dropped the final game of the series 8-2.
UMaine starter Fran Whitten got the loss, going just two innings and giving up a pair of runs. Binghamton sophomore starter Jake Cryts was awarded the win after going 6 andtwo-thirds innings and giving up two runs on seven hits.
Binghamton got on the board early in the second when Whitten walked McGraw, hit Gamanche with a pitch and then drilled senior second baseman John Howell to load the bases before beaning Posavec to walk in the first run of the game.
Whitten struggled again in the bottom of the third, giving up a single and a walk before being replaced by Heath. Heath hit Thomas to load the bases and gave up a McGraw single to right field that scored Bereszniewicz for a 2-0 Bearcats advantage.
The Black Bears got on the board in the fifth when Bernardo led off with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a flyout to left field. Bussey grounded out to second but scored Bernardo to cut the lead in half.
Blanden, Bereszniewicz and senior second baseman Daniel Nevares loaded the bases for Binghamton before Thomas launched a grand slam to give the Bearcats a quick five-run lead.
The Black Bears put a dent in the lead in the top of the seventh with a Salcedo solo shot but Binghamton tacked on two more in the bottom of the eighth with a Thomas two-run shot to ensure the win.