It was a career night for University of Maine’s fourth-year guard Olivia Rockwood, as she scored a personal best of 24 points, including eight 3-point field goals en route to a solid victory over the Bryant Bulldogs by a score of 70-58 on Saturday.

With the road win, UMaine advances to 15-8 standings overall and 8-1 in America East conference play. The Black Bears are tied atop the table with the University of Albany, who handed them their only conference loss of the season on Jan. 25.

There was little doubt in the outcome of the game, as Maine seized the lead in the first minute of the game and would not relinquish it for the rest of the night. 

Stifling defense proved instrumental in Maine’s dominance, as they soundly won the turnover battle while limiting the Bulldogs’ field goal percentage when it mattered most.

Rockwood was not the only standout performer for UMaine on Saturday. Third-year forward and reigning conference player of the year Adrianna Smith exhibited her all-around dominance once again, posting her 16th double-double of the season.

Smith mustered 16 points and 13 rebounds, adding eight assists and three steals for good measure. She continues to vex defenses with her ability to score down low, be physical for loose balls, and be a playmaker when her teammates have open looks. 

Maine’s offensive approach on Saturday was clearly to feed the hot hand. Rockwood attempted 17 field goals, all from 3-point distance, as she stepped up to provide the range to the lineup without Anne Simon. Simon left with an ankle injury in the third quarter of last Thursday’s win over the UMass Lowell Riverhawks.

Simon missed a significant portion of last year’s campaign with an injury but still managed to make the All-Conference second team. She has made the first or second team in all four years at UMaine. 

The Black Bears’ dominant execution on the road is more impressive when you factor in Simon’s absence. She and Smith rank first and second respectively, in the conference in points per game.

Maine’s well-rounded attack and complete game performances can be greatly attributed to four-time America East coach of the year Amy Vachon, whose contract was extended last week to run through 2028. 

Vachon led Maine to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances during her tenure as a player, including the Black Bears’ first-round upset of the Stanford Cardinal in 1999. 

Vachon’s passion for the game and her roots at the University of Maine have certainly contributed to her consistent success at the helm of the Black Bears. 

The Black Bears will now gear up for the final month of regular season conference play before the tournament. They’ll welcome the University of New Hampshire to the pit this Saturday before the Bryant University Bulldogs visit on Feb. 15.

The final half of conference play will prove crucial in determining if the Black Bears have what it takes to earn their fifth regular season championship and third conference tournament championship dating back to 2017-18.

The University of Maine football team suited up for their final regular season game on Saturday in Durham, N.H., where they took a frustrating loss to the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Wildcats, 44-25. The game marked the 111th battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket, which is awarded annually to the winner of this historic rivalry game.

Despite the lopsided final score, many stats from the game indicate an even matchup. UNH outgained UMaine by only 27 total yards, and each team converted about half of their third down opportunities. UMaine even had significantly more passing yards than New Hampshire. However, the game was once again lost for the Black Bears on the ground, as they managed only 31 rushing yards against 102 for UNH. 

The rushing numbers for UMaine were significantly impacted by the 38 ground yards lost by fourth-year quarterback Derrick Robertson on failed rush attempts. UMaine’s only major contributor on the ground was first-year running back Tristen Kenan, who accumulated 50 net rushing yards, averaging 4.4 per attempt. 

Running the ball may not have been much of an option for UMaine from the start of the game, as New Hampshire put two touchdowns on the board in the first quarter to jump out to a 13-0 lead. From there, Maine had to play catchup, meaning that the passing game was their main focus throughout the duration of the contest.

There were significant questions for Maine coming into this game about how they handled the passing attack while being down their top two receivers. Third-year Montigo Moss and fifth-year Joe Gillette were not dressed this week, as they sustained injuries two Saturdays before against UAlbany. Robertson did not let this affect his play, as he did a fantastic job spreading the ball around to different targets. 

Robertson amassed 315 passing yards and three touchdown passes for the afternoon. He went 32-51 and threw one interception, as well as losing a fumble. This was Robertson’s fifth game with 300+ passing yards this season.

Fourth-year wide receiver Jamie Lamson was once again Robertson’s top target. He made eight grabs for 50 yards and a touchdown, which extended his scoring streak to five games. Second-year wide receiver Trevin Ewing had another great game, proving that he can step up in the absence of Maine’s top receiving targets. He made seven catches for 79 yards and a touchdown of his own. Fifth-year tight end Cooper Heisey also found the endzone, making two receptions for 48 yards.

Maine’s best chance to seize control of the game came late in the second quarter when UMaine fifth-year kicker Cody Williams hit a line drive off of a Wildcat, which was recovered by the Black Bears. Unfortunately for Maine, they’d cough it up two plays later on a backbreaking fumble by Robertson that the Wildcats turned into a touchdown a couple of plays later.

On Maine’s next drive, Robertson threw an interception that New Hampshire converted into a touchdown drive, effectively burying the Black Bears. 

With this loss, the Black Bears’ season ends with a dismal 2-9 record, the same record as last year. While there were silver linings throughout the season, it is evident that something needs to be done to change the trajectory of this team going forward. We’ll have to wait until next year to see if the offseason pays off.

The scene on the field greatly contrasted the mood in the stands at Chase Field in Arizona on Wednesday, as the final out of the 2023 World Series was recorded. The nine Texas Rangers on the field burst into elation as reliever Josh Sborz delivered a beautiful 12-6 curveball to retire Ketel Marte on strikes. With this strikeout, the Rangers had just won the first World Series title in the 62-year history of their franchise.

Wednesday’s win was not unlike the three others that Texas managed over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the series. The Rangers pitching staff made another quality start, this time courtesy of the six-inning scoreless outing from former Boston Red Sox hurler Nathan Eovaldi. 

Eovaldi was effective all day despite allowing four hits and six walks. He managed to pitch his way out of jams with little difficulty, including a bases-loaded conundrum in the fifth inning of a scoreless game. 

The Rangers’ bats struggled through the first eight innings as Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen, a Cy Young Award hopeful in the National League, carried a no-hit bid into the seventh. Texas managed to scratch across one run in the seventh and broke the game open in the top of the ninth. The Rangers exploded for four runs against Diamondbacks reliever Paul Sewald in the final frame to secure the win. 

The Rangers operated like a well-oiled machine throughout the duration of the postseason. When one aspect of the team was struggling, the other players picked up the slack. 

When the bats went cold, the pitchers limited their opponents to one or two runs. When the pitching staff couldn’t assemble it, the lineup broke out for a 10-run game to out-slug their adversaries. The Rangers of the World Series final felt far removed from the same squad we saw get cold during the later part of the regular season.

Save for one series, the Rangers glided through the postseason with little resistance, sweeping the Rays and Orioles in the American League Wild Card and Divisional Series, respectively. 

The prestigious World Series MVP title was awarded to superstar shortstop Corey Seager, his second nod, after he won the award in 2020 with the world-champion Dodgers squad that dominated the postseason. 

Seager hit three home runs, six RBI and managed a 1.137 OPS for the series. He also began the seventh-inning rally in Game 5 that broke up Gallen’s no-hitter and scratched across the first Rangers run. 

This World Series win certainly takes some weight off of the franchise’s fans, as the 62-year wait was certainly excruciating. Legendary players have gone through Texas, but they have come up empty until now. 

Many point to this year’s title as exorcising the demons of the 2011 Fall Classic, where they came a mere strike away from vanquishing the NL underdog St. Louis Cardinals, who eventually came back to steal the title from Texas in dramatic fashion. 

The spirits of the past have been put to rest, and now the Rangers can celebrate before turning their focus on their title defense to come in 2024.

The University of Maine football team hosted the University at Albany Great Danes on Saturday, Oct 28, losing 37-21. With the defeat, Maine falls to 2-7 overall and 1-5 in conference play. 

Conditions were balmy and bright at Morse Field as the Black Bears received the opening kickoff. After starting their opening trip at their 31-yard line, Maine quickly marched down the field for a four-minute and 15-second drive punctuated by fourth-year quarterback Derek Robertson’s touchdown pass to third-year wide receiver Jamie Lamson. This was Lamson’s fourth touchdown reception of the season and marked the third straight game in which he recorded one. 

Maine forced a punt on UAlbany’s first drive. Still, it couldn’t capitalize on the resulting possession, as they went eleven yards in the wrong direction before a poor punt set UAlbany up with the ball inside Maine territory. 

From there, the Great Danes were quickly able to find the endzone en route to a run of 17 unanswered points.

Maine’s resulting possession did not go according to plan. Down 10-7, the Black Bears had the ball in Albany territory until Robertson fumbled the ball on a strip sack by Brian Abraham, who returned the ball 68 yards for a devastating defensive touchdown. 

Maine bounced back on their next possession, and Robertson found third-year wide receiver Michael Monios in the endzone for his first touchdown reception of the year. Monios’ performance was among the silver linings of Saturday’s game, as the third-year wide receiver from Montreal posted career highs in receptions (10) and receiving yards (96). 

Trailing by only three, Maine’s defense could not keep Albany’s offense at bay. Great Danes quarterback Reese Poffenburger completed a 53-yard touchdown near the end of the half to put a damper on Maine’s hopes for an upset. This drive started another scoring run for UAlbany that carried deep into the second half. 

After allowing twenty unanswered points, Maine found the endzone for the final time in the fourth quarter when first-year running back Tristen Kenan recorded an 11-yard receiving touchdown from Robertson. 

Saturday marked Kenan’s first in-game reps since October 7, when he left Maine’s game vs. Richmond with an injury. 

Robertson finished 29-43 for 220 yards. He threw three touchdowns and two interceptions, as well as coughing up the ball for the Great Danes’ scoop-and-score. 

“It’s 100% on me,” said Robertson in Saturday’s press conference. “You can’t turn the ball over.  It puts the whole team in an awful spot. I can’t do that, and I have to be a lot better.”

Despite what he may think, it’s evident that Robertson does not deserve 100% of the blame for Saturday’s defeat. Maine’s defense allowed 324 passing yards and 149 rushing yards. The Great Danes could also complete multiple passes of greater than 50 yards.

Additionally, Maine’s struggling special teams unit set Albany up with a short field multiple times, which is not a recipe for success on the defensive side of the ball. 

“Honestly, as a defense, we weren’t doing what we were supposed to do.,” said third-year defensive back third-year defensive back Kahzir “Buggs” Brown at Saturday’s postgame press conference. “We just have to do a better job at executing our plays and just locking in our technique.”

The somber feel of the press conference reflected the attitude of a dejected team. It’s evident that group morale has been on a steady decline throughout the season, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that these losses are beginning to frustrate the Black Bears. 

“Obviously, you want to get the turnovers back,” said head coach Jordan Stevens on the loss. “We didn’t execute well enough throughout the entire game to win.”

This is Steven’s second year as the program’s head coach. Saturday’s defeat brings his record with the Black Bears to 4-16 overall, including a 3-9 record against CAA opponents. 

The Black Bears won’t contend for the conference title this year, but the final two games of their regular season certainly have stakes. Next Saturday, Maine will host the Hampton University Pirates, who were outscored 108-13 by their opponents over their last two games. 

Last year, Maine was able to defeat Hampton on the road in what was one of their two wins on the season. 

After Hampton, Maine will have a bye week before going on the road to take on the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. 

The Black Bears will be playing with a chip on their shoulder, as they narrowly lost at home to UNH last year on a two-point conversion attempt in overtime. 

American football is a game rife with strange rules and quirks that set it apart from the sports of the rest of the world. Among the most controversial of these rules is the infamous fumble touchback, which reared its head in the University of Maine football’s homecoming win against Long Island University.

LIU quarterback Ethan Greenwood was steps away from paydirt, and about to score until defensive back Damon Matthews popped the ball out of his grasp. The ball took a strange tumble and bounced off the pylon in the corner of the endzone, resulting in an uncommon fumble touchback.

A fumble touchback is a crucial and often dramatic play in American football that occurs when an offensive player loses possession of the ball inside the opponent’s end zone, resulting in a touchback. In this scenario, the defending team is awarded possession of the ball at their own 20-yard line. The fumble touchback rule has significant consequences for the game’s momentum and highlights the importance of ball security in football.

The fumble touchback rule serves as a strong incentive for players to protect the ball near the goal line. It can be a game-changer, turning a potential touchdown or field goal into a turnover and a 20-yard advantage for the opposing team. Case in point, instead of taking a 14-0 lead, LIU turned the ball over to the Black Bears, who promptly marched down the field for a Montigo Moss touchdown. 

Many argue for abolishing the fumble touchback, as it is a cruel punishment for an offense that would otherwise have manufactured a successful drive. This is especially evident when you remember that a typical out-of-bounds fumble does not result in a team losing possession. 

However, many would argue that the fumble touchback’s unique cruelty makes it a valuable part of football. In the modern game, so many penalties and enforcements work to the offense’s advantage. Roughing the passer is more pertinent than ever. Defensive holding is always an automatic first down, and an errant defensive pass interference call can change the entire momentum of a game the same way a big passing play can. 

Despite not being unanimously adored, the fumble touchback adds an extra layer of tension and excitement to football games, making goal-line stands and fumbles some of the most memorable moments in the sport. It also emphasizes the importance of ball security, specifically in the red zone. If a team manages to fumble away a possession into their own endzone, it stands to reason that they should lose that possession. 

The fumble touchback rule underscores the fine margins of success and failure in football, where a split-second decision can dramatically impact the outcome of a game. It would be a shame to see the rule go, as it significantly augments the excitement and intrigue of what could otherwise be bland and uncompetitive moments. 

October is upon us, and out of the 30 Major League Baseball teams in competition for the 2023 season, four remain standing. Throughout the course of 162 regular season games and two playoff rounds, the wheat has been separated from the chaff and the field of World Series hopefuls has been culled. 

Among the remaining contenders are a yearly fixture of the American League playoffs, a team that hasn’t won a World Series in their 62 years of existence, and a team hungry for revenge after falling just short of glory one year ago. 

None of the remaining teams won their division single-handedly, and it looks like they all have a good chance to fight for the title. As the League Championship Series gets underway this week, it is time for an overview of where all four teams stand and a recap of the stakes at hand as they fight for a fall classic appearance. 

HOUSTON ASTROS

The American League heavyweights and defending world champs are making their seventh straight ALCS appearance as their streak of dominance continues. Some old favorites returned to the picture for the Astros this year, most notably being 40-year-old flamethrower Justin Verlander. The three-time Cy Young award winner started the year with the Mets before their season flamed out, and he was returned to his old team. Verlander pitched to the tune of a 3.22 ERA across 162.1 innings in his 18th year as a Major Leaguer. 

Other players to watch for Houston are University of Maine alumni Jeremy Peña and elite starting pitcher Framber Valdez. Looking as strong as ever, the Astros are once again a pretty good bet to go all the way as they chase their third title since 2017.

TEXAS RANGERS

Houston’s American League counterpart is also their cross-town rival. The Texas Rangers are making their first playoff appearance since 2016, which is ironically the last year that the Astros failed to make the playoffs themselves. Seeking their first World Series berth since 2011 and their first title in the history of their franchise, the Rangers have been hot and cold all season, going on massive win streaks and losing skids. 

Important pieces for Texas as they try to remain hot include Jordan Montgomery, a pitch-to-contact lefty whom they acquired at the trade deadline. Offensively, look out for Corey Seager, whose regular season OPS totaled greater than 1.000. 

The Rangers are also betting on a veteran right–handed starter, as two-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer is eyeing a return from injury in the ALCS. 

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Making their first playoff appearance since 2017, the D-Backs have been underdogs throughout the course of the season, playing third banana in the NL West to the Dodgers and Padres, who were surrounded by much more hype in the preseason. 

Righty Zac Gallen was a Cy Young contender for Arizona this season before he backslid in the second half. Gallen did finish with an impressive 220 strikeouts in 210 innings. Watch for him to mow down opposing hitters if the Diamondbacks are going to have success. 

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Full of attitude and hungry for a title, the Phillies are looking for payback after losing last year’s World Series in six games to the Astros. Philadelphia finished 14 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East but won when it mattered, defeating their division foe in the NLDS in five games. 

Team star Bryce Harper has been electric as usual, raking for a .368 average and three home runs so far this postseason. His leadership and energy are at the center of the Phillies’ success. 

Phillies’ ace Aaron Nola is coming off of a substandard regular season but has been a force so far in the playoffs, with an ERA of 1.42 and 12 strikeouts across 12.2 postseason innings. His bounce-back has been critical in Philadelphia’s run at a second straight World Series berth. 

On Sep. 29, 1995, the double murder trial of O.J. Simpson was sent to the jury for a verdict, 15 months after Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were found stabbed to death in the front courtyard of Brown Simpson’s condominium. Having dominated national media coverage for over a year, the conclusion of this highly publicized legal battle was anticipated, like the reveal of a TV series finale. 

The innocence of Simpson, a fan-favorite NFL star, broadcaster and actor, was the subject of intense debate across the country. The issue transcended the football community, capturing the attention of the American public regardless of their interest in sports. The trial’s occurrence at a time of high tension surrounding the issue of police brutality only added to the polarizing nature of the decision to come. 

Nicole Brown Simpson was the ex-wife of O.J. Simpson, which, to many Americans, served as a sufficient motive for the murder. Simpson had a history of violence toward Nicole, further cementing his guilt in the minds of many Americans. Others were swayed by the defense’s arguments, which included a cross-examination of the officers in Simpson’s case and their history of using inflammatory, racist language on record. The defense also attempted to discredit the evidence of the prosecution, setting forward arguments that critical evidence, such as Simpson’s glove found on the scene and the blood inside his white Ford Bronco, was planted by officers in order to frame him.

The trial of O.J. Simpson was of a spectacular nature from the beginning. Five days after the death of the victims, Simpson was summoned to turn himself into LAPD. Instead, officers arrived at his home to find he had fled with his former teammate Al Cowlings. Hours later, officers located Simpson’s vehicle on the freeway, being driven by Cowlings. From there, a chase ensued that lasted over 90 minutes. Neither Cowlings nor the police escalated the speed of the chase, although it still became national breaking news. NBC cut away from gae five of that year’s NBA finals to display a live feed of the car chase on national television. Across the country, nearly 100 million tuned in to watch “the Juice” flee LAPD on charges of suspected murder. It was a level of sensationalism never-before-seen. 

The trial unfolded over the next year and three months, with Simpson’s dream team” of high-profile lawyers taking every opportunity they could to poke holes in the case of the prosecution. Judge Lance Ito and others involved with the courts worked tirelessly to preserve the credibility of the jurors, as keeping them unbiased proved to be an extreme challenge in the midst of such a highly publicized affair. 

When each side rested their case, and the trial was finally sent to the jury, they took only four hours of deliberation to declare Simpson not guilty for both counts of murder. The decision sparked a mix of reactions as one of the most high-profile criminal cases in US history finally drew to a close. 

Despite his acquittal, Simpson could not escape the matter of his ex-wife’s death forever. The family of Ronald Goldman submitted a wrongful death suit, for which Simpson was found liable. He was forced to turn over $8.5 million in assets as damages.

In 2008, Simpson was arrested and convicted of assault, armed robbery, and kidnapping after he was caught trying to steal high-value sports memorabilia which he claimed ownership of. The reverberations from the Goldman case had finally put Simpson in prison, where he was sentenced to 33 years. 

Today, Simpson is a free man after being granted parole in 2017 and an early discharge from his parole in 2021. It’s safe to say that nobody who was tuned in at the peak of the spectacle has forgotten the nation-sweeping impact of Simpson’s criminal trial, which stands as a forefather to many high-profile criminal cases that dominate the media cycle today. 

Two-way baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani underwent a procedure on his throwing elbow last Tuesday, officially ending his season. The surgery was to treat a UCL tear that had been precluding the 29-year-old from pitching since Aug. 23. It’s expected that Ohtani will be able to return as a hitter as soon as Opening Day next season, however he likely will not pitch until 2025. Ohtani was hitting for an outlandish 1.066 OPS and leading the American League with 44 home runs. He also held a 3.14 ERA in 132 IP this season. 

The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to Ohtani. His unique mastery of all phases of baseball have led many to declare that he’s already the most prolific player in the history of the sport, despite never having made a Major League Baseball playoff appearance. Ohtani is in the final year of his contract, and it’s anticipated that the bidding war for his services this coming offseason will be the greatest ever seen in MLB.

Virtually any baseball fan who lives outside of Anaheim is hoping to see Ohtani leave the Los Angeles Angels in the offseason. In his time with the Angels, Ohtani has blown the baseball world away, won the Rookie of the Year award, won Most Valuable Player, and has been rewarded with no playoff appearances to date. 

The Angels are infamous amongst audiences for their tendency to waste prime talent. Mike Trout has been with the club since 2011, and has only played in three postseason games despite being considered the most complete player in baseball during 10 or so years of that stretch. Despite having these two phenoms on the team at the same time, and despite their bloated payroll of $212 million ranking sixth in the league, the halos will miss the playoffs for the 10th consecutive year. 

It’s abhorrent that the Angels have managed to fritter away such generational talent so consistently, and for the sake of the sport, it’s imperative that Ohtani signs somewhere else this offseason. The questions remain: where will he sign, for how much and for how long?

Ohtani has not publicly expressed a strong desire to leave the Angels, but his frustration in the face of his team’s struggles has been palpable. Whichever team signs Ohtani will need to fork over a hefty chunk of change. It’s projected that Ohtani’s contract will eclipse $500 million over 10 or more years. It remains to be seen whether his injury history will give teams a discount. This season’s elbow surgery is the second of Ohtani’s career, which could give teams a reason to fear a complete collapse on the mound, or another injury that could end his pitching career for good. 

It’s up in the air where Ohtani will land this winter, but the current favorites to land him are the Angels’ cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Known for making big splashes in free agency, the Dodgers are a consistently competitive team, where Ohtani’s success would see no limits. Other proposed teams include the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets.

For Ohtani, the decisions to come in the offseason will be immense. For now however, the young star will need to focus on his rehabilitation, hoping to return a more dynamic player than ever before.

The University of Maine baseball team extended their undefeated start in conference play last weekend, as they swept the University at Albany in a three-game series at home. 

UMaine was able to find success on both sides of the ball as they outscored the Great Danes 36-8 during the series. 

The fun started for the Black Bears on April 7, where they took the opening game of the series by a merciless score of 20-4. The Black Bears’ lineup accumulated 20 hits, including eight extra-base hits. UMaine utility player Jake Rainess scored four times to bolster his runs-per-game rate to 1.69, good for No. 2 overall in college baseball.

The outcome of this game was never in doubt, as UMaine took a 12-0 lead into the fourth inning.

Photo by Liv Schanck

UMaine third-year Quinn McDaniel hit a two-run blast to left in the fifth inning, his eighth of the year, to bring the Black Bears’ lead to 17-0. 

UAlbany managed to put together some offense late, but it was not enough to change the final outcome. Second-year pitcher Colin Fitzgerald was credited with the win, as he delivered 5.1 innings of two-run baseball. He struck out six while allowing seven hits and two walks. 

Maine kept the pressure on the Great Danes during the Saturday game, as the offense once again exploded for 12 runs. Jeremiah Jenkins set the tone for the game as he hit his 10th home run of the year in the first inning to put the Black Bears ahead 2-0. 

Each team scored some small-ball runs, and then UMaine fourth-year Ryan Turenne hit a solo shot to bring the score to 5-1 Black Bears. This was Turenne’s first home run of the season. 

Great Danes starter Matthew Mariano was relieved from the game in the fifth inning after allowing five runs and nine hits. The Black Bears continued to roll in the seventh inning, however, scoring three runs in the inning to stretch their lead.

UMaine knocked home four more in the eighth frame, courtesy of a bases-clearing double for third-year Jake Marquez and an RBI single for third-year Colin Plante. 

Photo by Liv Schanck

Second-year southpaw Caleb Leys earned the win after tossing six innings. Leys allowed one run, two hits and three walks. He struck out seven batters. The final score was 12-1.

Maine completed the sweep on Sunday with a little more suspense. Jenkins got the game teed off in a familiar fashion, as he hit a first-inning home run for the second consecutive day. 

The Great Danes got a taste of the lead for the first time of the weekend when Carson Dunkel hit a two-run home run to right field in the third inning. 

Maine tied the game in the fifth inning when Marquez hit a sacrifice fly to score Rainess. Rainess was tallied as an unearned run as he reached on an error by the shortstop.

UAlbany retook the lead an inning later when Justin Hurd hit an RBI double to make it 3-2 Great Danes. Following the play, UMaine head coach Nick Derba decided to pull starting pitcher Noah Lewis.  

Lewis threw 6.1 solid innings, surrendering three runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out three batters.

Andrew Chevarie was called on in relief, but could not record an out, giving up two walks in the process. Colton Carson was brought in for damage control and pitched brilliantly, allowing no runs or hits while striking out two and surrendering a walk.

UAlbany called in relief pitcher Owen Birkman to begin the eighth. Starter Dylan Banner went seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned run) on nine hits and two walks, while striking out six. 

Things looked dire for the Black Bears as they entered the bottom of the ninth trailing by one run. Marquez and Plante began to spark a rally with two straight singles to start the frame. On the next play, a throwing error allowed Marquez to score and tie the game. 

Photo by Liv Schanck

UAlbany put the inning to bed after forcing a flyout and a strikeout, but UMaine had gotten the job done and forced extra innings. 

Fifth-year reliever Justin Baeyens pitched a 1-2-3 top of the tenth, handing the game back to the offense. Rainess led off the bottom of the frame with a double, which McDaniel immediately followed up with another double to win the game 4-3 and send UMaine fans home happy. 

Baeyens secured the win for UMaine as he threw two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and one walk while earning one strikeout. 

The sweep put Maine at 9-0 in conference play, their best conference start since 1991. 

Jenkins was credited with the America East Player of the Week honors for his performance. Jenkins had a 1.077 OPS for the weekend, hitting two home runs and batting in nine runs. 

Four out of eight of this year’s Player of the Week accolades have been awarded to a player from UMaine.

*Results of Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 not reflected in this article

It’s mid-March, and four NASCAR Cup Series races are already in the books. In typical NASCAR fashion, this season has already been full of chaos, with three different race winners and multiple headlines which have shaken the sport.

Most notably, NASCAR darling Chase Elliott is currently on the sidelines for six weeks, recovering from a leg injury sustained in a snowboarding accident that he suffered on March 3. Chase is the son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott and has been voted NASCAR’s most popular driver for five years in a row. 

Ironically, Elliott’s misfortune could save him in the long run, as his teammates and fill-in driver at Hendrick Motorsports were penalized at Phoenix for unapproved adjustments to the car during practice. Each team faced a $100,000 fine and was docked 100 regular season points and ten playoff points.

While this is a huge penalty, it has barely put a scratch on Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron’s championship hopes. Byron was the race winner at both the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas, and the Ruoff Mortgage 500 in Phoenix. He is already locked into a playoff spot due to NASCAR’s win-and-in format. 

Two other drivers have already secured their spots in the playoff. NASCAR legend Kyle Busch was the victor at Auto Club Speedway, proving he can thrive independently of Joe Gibbs Racing, the team he won two series championships with. 

In his new number eight car with Richard Childress Racing, Busch sits at fifth in the points standings and has spent plenty of time running in the top five this season. It’s only a matter of time before NASCAR’s favorite villain-turned-hero strikes again for another win. 

At this year’s first crown jewel racing event, the Daytona 500, underdog Ricky Stenhouse Jr. emerged from the pack to secure a very memorable victory. Stenhouse breaks an incredible winless streak of 199 races to secure his third career victory on the biggest of NASCAR stages. 

Stenhouse has officially locked himself into the playoffs for the first time since 2017. He currently sits in 11th place in the points standings. 

At the top of the standings currently is 47-year-old Kevin Harvick. In his final season of competition, Harvick is one of the last remaining titans from one of NASCAR’s most memorable eras. Harvick has secured one Cup Series championship, but looks to contend for one more this year before his driving days are done. 

As a sport battling for viewers’ eyes, NASCAR has been trying desperately to increase viewership. Track changes, schedule shifts and new-generation racecars show that NASCAR has gone all-in on cementing itself as a major force in the sporting world. 

So far, this season’s races have been mostly engaging and entertaining according to most fans on social media. However, some criticisms remain, mostly about NASCAR’s overuse of the “cookie cutter” racetracks that comprise so much of NASCAR’s regular-season schedule.

There’s a long season ahead for the NASCAR fan community, and a lot of exciting storylines that are worth following going forward.