The 2018 NFL draft kicked off in Arlington, Texas on Thursday, April 26. For the second time in as many years, the Cleveland Browns found themselves with the first overall selection in the draft. With quarterback once again being a need, the team took a chance on Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, whose stock climbed in the days leading up to the draft. A lot of last-minute mock drafts had Mayfield going first overall, and perhaps finally the Browns have found a quarterback to build around. General Manager John Dorsey and head coach Hue Jackson both love Mayfield’s attitude and competitiveness, and feel that he can morph into a great team leader.

On top of Cleveland finding its quarterback, the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens all went with quarterbacks in the first round. The Jets once again took a chance with a University of Southern California (USC) quarterback, this time in Sam Darnold. The team hopes to see better results than the last time they drafted a USC quarterback, which was Mark Sanchez in 2009. Sanchez led the Jets to back-to-back AFC title games, but never showed the development the team wanted to see and was released after just four years with the team. Darnold will be in a better position than Sanchez was, though. Unlike Sanchez, Darnold will likely sit on the bench and learn from veteran Josh McCown for at least a season. McCown is coming off a career year that saw post-career highs in touchdown passes (18) and passing yards (2,996).

The Buffalo Bills got their guy in Josh Allen, who many thought was the best fit for them. Allen came under fire in the hours leading up to the draft due to a series of tweets from 2013, which contained racial slurs. He has since apologized, saying he was “young and dumb” at the time he sent out the tweets. Regardless, Buffalo has seemed to move on from the incident and is excited to see what Allen can bring to the table. The 21-year-old is built to play in bad weather games, having played at Wyoming, and has an incredibly strong arm, giving him the ability to make throws many others can’t. Allen will definitely have some growing pains, but this is a good move for Buffalo, who has hopefully locked down their franchise quarterback.

Arizona landed UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen with the 10th pick. Rosen quickly expressed his anger toward not being picked earlier, but should be happy overall where he ended up. He’ll compete with newly acquired Sam Bradford, who is the Cardinals’ projected opening day starter.

The last quarterback who was projected to go in the first round by most went with the final pick of the round. Louisville standout Lamar Jackson was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, who traded up to get him. Overall this was a good move by Baltimore. Jackson’s not the most NFL-ready quarterback, so sitting behind Joe Flacco for a year or two will be good. Once he has some experience he could turn into a dynamic player for years to come.

The NFL Draft has passed, and the New England Patriots bolstered their roster to make a run for the Super Bowl. Here are the picks that struck out most.

Best move: Isaiah Wynn, OL, Georgia. Round 1, Pick 23.

This is the best move if you’re the Patriots, as you have to keep Tom Brady upright. New England missed out on their first choice in offensive tackle Kolton Miller from UCLA, but made a good choice here in Wynn. He’s versatile and proved in college that he can be shifted between guard and tackle. His size has been called into question as well as his ability to handle the strength of NFL-caliber talent, but offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia should be able to help him adjust to the professional level. Overall, this was a much-needed pick for New England, who lost offensive linemen Cameron Fleming and Nate Solder this offseason.

Biggest surprise: Sony Michel, RB, Georgia. Round 1, Pick 31.

The biggest surprise was honestly the fact that New England didn’t opt to draft a quarterback until the seventh round, when they selected Danny Etling out of Louisiana State. But the choice to draft Michel at 31 was a bit shocking too. Michel is no doubt an electric running back and looks to be a similar type of player to Dion Lewis, but many thought if New England was going to draft a running back at all, it would have been later. Regardless, the Patriots have a great player in Michel. He’s a disciplined runner and was a proven leader at Georgia. The addition of Michel, along with James White, Rex Burkhead and Jeremy Hill, gives the Patriots a wide array of options on how to attack defenses.

Biggest sleeper pick: Braxton Berrios, WR, Miami. Round 6, Pick 210.

Berrios is projected by many scouts as an NFL backup and special teams player, but he has the skills to fit the Patriots offense. He can play in the slot and knows how to work the middle of the field. His size is a bit alarming at 5 feet 9 inches, but New England has made it work with many other short receivers in the past. Even if Berrios takes time to adapt to the Patriots offense, he’ll be a plus on special teams, which never hurts.

Overall, the Patriots filled their most pressing needs, which were offensive line and linebacker. Adding ballhawk cornerback Duke Dawson out of Florida was a great pick too and gives them insurance at the position. Michel should prove to be a good choice and perhaps Berrios can continue the successful run of receivers New England has had in the slot.  

The University of Maine baseball team (11-25, 6-6) split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader against America East opponent, University of Massachusetts Lowell (17-19, 8-7). The Black Bears used a five-run 10th inning to take Game 1, before falling 1-0 in Game 2.

After a scoreless first inning in Game 1, the Black Bears and River Hawks traded runs in the top of the second. Fourth-year infielder Ben Prada gave the River Hawks their first lead of the contest in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI ground ball. Prada would advance to second on a steal but UMass was unable to accomplish more as they moved into the fifth inning with a 2-1 lead. The lead would not last long thanks to third-year outfielder Colin Ridley. A leadoff double by catcher Christopher Bec quickly gave Maine a runner in scoring position, and Ridley followed with a single to right field to allow Bec to score and tie the game.

The River Hawks quickly regained their lead in the bottom half of the inning after third-year infielder Russ Olive dribbled a single just through the infield to score second-year outfielder Cam Climo and give UMass Lowell a 3-2 edge.

In the top of the sixth, Maine took their third lead of the game at 4-3. Second-year infielder Kevin Doody singled to start things off and second-year catcher Cody Pasic reached base after being hit by a pitch. Both Doody and Pasic would score after second-year first baseman Hernen Sardinas roped a single to right field.

The River Hawks again fought their way back to tie the game at 4-4 in the eighth, forcing the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, Maine quickly seized the lead again. Doody reached base and quickly scored on a single from third-year infielder Jeremy Pena. With two Black Bears on base, third-year infielder Danny Casals hit a three-run home run to give the team some much needed insurance. Bec would add an RBI single to make the score 9-4 going into the bottom of the 10th.

Fourth-year relief pitcher Connor Johnson came in for his second inning of work and was able to close the door in what was a back-and-forth game all afternoon. Johnson tossed two scoreless innings, while second-year Cody Laweryson threw nearly four innings of solid relief for the team as well. Third-year Zach Winn got the start for Maine, and went four and one-third innings on the hill, striking out six batters while allowing one earned run.

The River Hawks had five innings of pitching each from third-years Jack Riley and Nick Rand.

Game 2 proved to be a pitching duel, with the lone run coming off a Maine wild pitch by fourth-year pitcher Jonathan Arel. Prada, who walked to begin the bottom of the third, stole back-to-back bases before crossing home on Arel’s wild pitch. Arel turned in a stellar performance for Maine, throwing six innings of no-hit ball, while striking out 12 and walking three.

The Black Bears managed to score five hits off fourth-year Andrew Ryan, but were unable to gain any consistent momentum. They had runners in scoring position three times in the first five innings, but failed to capitalize. Ryan finished the day with six strikeouts in six innings. Fourth-year reliever Luke Tomczyk came in for the final frame and retired the side in order, earning his first save of the season.  

Maine’s comeback bid falls short in Series Finale

A fast start by the River Hawks proved to be too much for the Black Bears in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon.

UMass Lowell started off strong by plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Two of those runs came off a homerun by Olive, who became the second player in the teams division one history to reach double digit home runs in a single season. Olive finished 3-3 with three RBI in the game.

Maine’s first runs came in the third, when Casals drove in pair on a single to left. Maine would add a run on an RBI groundout to cut the River Hawks lead to 4-3.

UML would storm back with four more runs in the bottom of the the third, taking advantage of two miscues made in the Maine outfield. Olive added to his already strong day by driving in the final run of the inning on a double. UML would tack on another run in the bottom of the fourth and take a commanding 9-3 lead going into the fifth.

A two-run double by Pasic brought Maine to within three in the fifth and they made it a one run game when Doody drove in fourth-year Brandon Vicens on a single. The Black Bears were unable to get any more runs on the day, however, and fell by a final of 9-8.

The win put the River Hawks in second place in the conference, while a loss finds Maine in fifth.

UML will be back on action at home against Boston College on Wednesday with a 4 p.m. start.

Maine will also return to the field on Wednesday, with a home matchup against Bowdoin slated for a 7 p.m. first pitch.

The University of Maine baseball team (11-25, 6-6) split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader against America East opponent, University of Massachusetts Lowell (17-19, 8-7). The Black Bears used a five-run 10th inning to take Game 1, before falling 1-0 in Game 2.

After a scoreless first inning in Game 1, the Black Bears and River Hawks traded runs in the top of the second. Fourth-year infielder Ben Prada gave the River Hawks their first lead of the contest in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI ground ball. Prada would advance to second on a steal but UMass was unable to accomplish more as they moved into the fifth inning with a 2-1 lead. The lead would not last long thanks to third-year outfielder Colin Ridley. A leadoff double by catcher Christopher Bec quickly gave Maine a runner in scoring position, and Ridley followed with a single to right field to allow Bec to score and tie the game.

The River Hawks quickly regained their lead in the bottom half of the inning after third-year infielder Russ Olive dribbled a single just through the infield to score second-year outfielder Cam Climo and give UMass Lowell a 3-2 edge.

In the top of the sixth, Maine took their third lead of the game at 4-3. Second-year infielder Kevin Doody singled to start things off and second-year catcher Cody Pasic reached base after being hit by a pitch. Both Doody and Pasic would score after second-year first baseman Hernen Sardinas roped a single to right field.

The River Hawks again fought their way back to tie the game at 4-4 in the eighth, forcing the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, Maine quickly seized the lead again. Doody reached base and quickly scored on a single from third-year infielder Jeremy Pena. With two Black Bears on base, third-year infielder Danny Casals hit a three-run home run to give the team some much needed insurance. Bec would add an RBI single to make the score 9-4 going into the bottom of the 10th.

Fourth-year relief pitcher Connor Johnson came in for his second inning of work and was able to close the door in what was a back-and-forth game all afternoon. Johnson tossed two scoreless innings, while second-year Cody Laweryson threw nearly four innings of solid relief for the team as well. Third-year Zach Winn got the start for Maine, and went four and one-third innings on the hill, striking out six batters while allowing one earned run.

The River Hawks had five innings of pitching each from third-years Jack Riley and Nick Rand.

Game 2 proved to be a pitching duel, with the lone run coming off a Maine wild pitch by fourth-year pitcher Jonathan Arel. Prada, who walked to begin the bottom of the third, stole back-to-back bases before crossing home on Arel’s wild pitch. Arel turned in a stellar performance for Maine, throwing six innings of no-hit ball, while striking out 12 and walking three.

The Black Bears managed to score five hits off fourth-year Andrew Ryan, but were unable to gain any consistent momentum. They had runners in scoring position three times in the first five innings, but failed to capitalize. Ryan finished the day with six strikeouts in six innings. Fourth-year reliever Luke Tomczyk came in for the final frame and retired the side in order, earning his first save of the season.  

Maine’s comeback bid falls short in Series Finale

A fast start by the River Hawks proved to be too much for the Black Bears in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon.

UMass Lowell started off strong by plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Two of those runs came off a homerun by Olive, who became the second player in the teams division one history to reach double digit home runs in a single season. Olive finished 3-3 with three RBI in the game.

Maine’s first runs came in the third, when Casals drove in pair on a single to left. Maine would add a run on an RBI groundout to cut the River Hawks lead to 4-3.

UML would storm back with four more runs in the bottom of the the third, taking advantage of two miscues made in the Maine outfield. Olive added to his already strong day by driving in the final run of the inning on a double. UML would tack on another run in the bottom of the fourth and take a commanding 9-3 lead going into the fifth.

A two-run double by Pasic brought Maine to within three in the fifth and they made it a one run game when Doody drove in fourth-year Brandon Vicens on a single. The Black Bears were unable to get any more runs on the day, however, and fell by a final of 9-8.

The win put the River Hawks in second place in the conference, while a loss finds Maine in fifth.

UML will be back on action at home against Boston College on Wednesday with a 4 p.m. start.

Maine will also return to the field on Wednesday, with a home matchup against Bowdoin slated for a 7 p.m. first pitch.

The University of Maine football team began spring practices on Wednesday April 4, officially kicking off their 2018 season. The team is looking to improve upon their 2017 run, which saw them end with a record of 4-6, good for seventh place in the CAA. Although the team is less than two weeks into practice, Head Coach Joe Harasymiak is pleased with what he’s seen so far.

“It’s been going really well, spring ball for us is really about development,” Harasymiak said. “All the seniors are gone and graduated, so we have a lot of guys running around and trying new spots,” Harasymiak added.

Notable departures for the Black Bears include defensive backs DeAndre Scott and Najee Goode, along with offensive tackle and NFL hopeful Jamil Demby. Star running back Joshua Mack also left, opting to transfer to a higher-level program for his final two years in college. Mack proved to be Maine’s most valuable asset on offense in 2017. The Rochester, New York native led the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in rushing yards with 1,335 on 243 carries and also hauled in 30 catches for 209 yards. With Mack out of the picture, Maine now will rely on a trio of backs to split time at the position.

“We got plenty of guys that are ready to go,” Harasymiak said in regards to the running back position. “Joe Fitzpatrick is back, he did a great job for us last year. We have two redshirt freshmen that are outstanding, and that we’re really excited about. We’ll fill the role and we’ll be good,” Harasymiak said.

Fitzpatrick played well behind Mack in 2017, compiling 382 yards on 64 carries while scoring a touchdown.

Harasymiak has reason to be excited about the new duo of running backs as well. Outside of them, the team landed one if it’s biggest recruiting classes in the last decade. The Black Bears have 23 new faces coming in and may have a chance to get four to five more players in the process.

On top of all the new players, Maine has many key returning players too. Star wide receiver Micah Wright is expected to be ready by the start of the actual season. Wright is coming off ACL surgery and is currently not practicing with the team. Second-year quarterback Chris Ferguson is back, and has a year of experience under his belt. Ferguson is looking to build off a solid first-year campaign which saw him throw for 2,064 yards along with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. In the early goings of practice, Ferguson is already flashing signs of improvement.

“He’s got a better command of everything and his decision making has been better,” Harasymiak said. “The mental side of it is where we really want to see the progress,” Harasymiak added.

Harasymiak always stresses the importance of having a good mentality, something team failed to be consistent in last season. The Black Bears proved to be a tough test for most opponents in 2017, but let games get away from them in the fourth quarter. They ended their season by blowing a 12-point fourth quarter lead against Stony Brook, and also lost games against the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and Delaware, both of which were tied going into the fourth.

“To compete with teams that win titles, we need to take a step in the fourth quarter. It comes down to the mental side and being tough enough to make those plays,” Harasymiak said. “Certainly we’re more experienced in those games now and we’re creating environments in practice that simulate being tired and having to make plays in the fourth quarter.”

If Maine can make those fourth quarter plays Harasymiak talks about, it could be the difference between a six win season and a nine or 10 win season. Either way, Maine has plenty of things to be excited about in the 2018 season, including a Thursday night showdown against rival University of New Hampshire to start the year. It’s a home game for the Black Bears and Harasymiak admitted he wants to bring the prized Brice-Cowell Musket back to Maine. The musket is a special trophy that has been a staple of the Maine and New Hampshire rivalry for decades.

“We got to beat them, we want the musket back,” Harasymiak said.

Maine has a tough schedule to work with for the first few weeks, taking on Western Kentucky, Central Michigan and Yale after that opening matchup with the Wildcats. If they can win any of those games, even with the departures they have had to overcome, it should give them the momentum necessary to be a tough matchup for the rest of the conference.

Maine (12-14) began America East play strong, winning all three games against the Hartford Hawks (6-14) on Saturday and Sunday. Maine earned victories of  5-2 and 2-0 in Saturday’s doubleheader, before completing the sweep of the Hawks with a 6-2 win on Sunday afternoon. Maine has now won 14 straight games against Hartford.

In game one, it was fourth-year pitcher Annie Kennedy getting the job done. The Sound Beach, New York native hurled a shutout through six innings, before allowing two runs to the Hawks in the last half of the seventh. Kennedy finished with five strikeouts on the day.

Third-years third baseman Alyssa Derrick and shortstop Laurine German set the tone for Maine’s offense. Derrick launched her team-leading third home run of the season, while German finished 2-4, with a triple and three RBI.

Fourth-years Sarah Coyne and Erika Leonard chipped in with three hits each in the game. A Coyne single with two outs in the sixth eventually allowed Maine to plate three more runs and take a commanding 5-0 lead.

Second-year third baseman Amber Mianti ended the Black Bears bid for a shutout with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh off Kennedy. Mianti’s blast scored fourth-year first baseman Alex Saharek. Fourth-year pitcher Molly Flowers would come on in relief to get the final two outs for Maine.

In game two, the Black Bears were backed by a tremendous outing from second-year pitcher Kyleigh O’Donnell. O’Donnell went six innings, giving up two hits while punching out six. The team then turned to Flowers looking for more of what they saw in game one. Flowers pitched the final two frames, surrendering a pair of hits, while fanning two batters.

Runs proved to be hard to come by for both teams, with the game remaining scoreless into the eighth.

In game three, Maine got on things going early. Leonard lead off with a single and quickly moved to second on a throwing error by the Hawks. German pushed Leonard to third on a sacrifice bunt and Carlson followed with an infield single to short, scoring Leonard to get Maine on the board. Carlson then took second and third on pass balls before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Decker to gave Maine a 2-0 lead.

On the day, Carlson was able to record her ninth multi-hit game of the season.

In the top of the fifth, the Black Bears began to open things up. First-year Shanna Scribner singled to start off the inning and moved to third on a double by Leonard. Scribner then scored on a fielder’s choice hit by German and Leonard quickly followed on a throwing error by the Hartford catcher. German then came home on a triple by Carlson, who scored next on a sacrifice fly by Decker. Maine took a 6-0 lead going into the bottom half of the fifth. The Hawks cut the deficit to 6-2, but were unable to do further damage.

Kennedy earned her second win on the series and sixth overall, turning in another strong performance on the hill. Kennedy surrendered only one earned run on hits while fanning four and walking none. Kennedy has now pitched 31 straight innings without allowing a walk. Flowers came in and tossed two and a third scoreless innings while striking out one batter.

The Hawks return to the diamond on Wed. April 4 with a matchup against Siena College. Maine will travel to Albany for another America East series, with the first pitch of game set for 1 p.m. Saturday.

A 7-0 run by the University of Hartford (15-11) pushed them past the University of Maine (6-22) by a score of 67-63 on Thursday night at Chase Arena.

Fourth-year guard Aaron Calixte set the tone early for Maine, reaching double figures in the first seven minutes of the contest. His two three-pointers in the early-going gave Maine an 11-7 lead. For the game, Calixte finished with a team high 24 points on the night. The Massachusetts native chipped in five assists, four rebounds, a block and a steal on top of his eighth 20-plus point game of the season.

The Hawks snagged their first lead of the game, 16-15, following a 9-4 run. The team was lead by third-year Jason Dunne, who had a team-high 19 points for the Hawks. Overall Hartford had four players hit double figures. The team would add to their 9-4 run and extend their lead to 28-21 at the midpoint of the first half.

Trailing 36-33 in the final minute of the first half, first-year guard Dennis Ashley knocked down a 3-point field goal to notch the game at 36-36 heading into the break.

In the second half, it was second-year forward Andrew Fleming taking over for the Black Bears. He scored the first points of the half for the team, giving them a 38-36 lead, their first since the 15:10 mark of the first. Fleming finished the game with 16 points total, including 12 in the second half. His 12 points in the second frame lead all Maine scorers.

Much of the final frame proved to be a back and forth battle. Neither team lead by more than  four points. Leading 59-58 with under three to play, third-year Ilija Stojiljkovic got to the charity stripe and sank both free throws to extend the Black Bears lead to three. The Serbia native finished with six points and a team high 11 rebounds.

The Hawks would once again go on a run that would prove to be the difference maker in the game. Hartford drained a 3 on their next possession tying the game for the ninth time on the night. They would take the lead on their following possession after they made two free throws. Maine had chances to take the lead on their next two possessions, but failed to do so and was forced to foul with only 16 seconds left. The Hawks once again made both of their free throws and took a 4–point lead. Maine turned to Calixte for answers and he delivered a quick field goal to make it 65-63. Maine fouled Hartford with six seconds left hoping for a Hawks miss to keep their chances alive. However, the Hawks once again made both foul shots, and took home the win 67-63. The Hawks shot 90 percent from the line in the second half, compared to Maine’s 50 percent.

Despite the loss, Maine had the edge in field goal percentage (37.1 percent), rebounds (45-40), points in the paint (26-18) and fast-break points (16-5).

The win gave Hartford their eighth in America East play.

The Hawks return to the hardwood on Sunday, Feb. 18, to play the America East leading Vermont Catamounts. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. The Black Bears won’t return to action until Feb. 21, when they travel south to take on the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, with tip-off set for 7 p.m.  

Maine (0-3) fell to Texas Tech (3-0) 4-2 on Friday afternoon at Rip Griffin Stadium. The Black Bears couldn’t overcome a three-run third inning by the Red Raiders, who were powered by a bases clearing single by third-year outfielder Cody Farhat. Farhat’s hit gave Texas Tech a 2-0 lead. Second-year outfielder Grant Little followed with a double off the top of the right field wall to score Farhat and extend the teams lead to three.

Maine clawed back with a run in the top of the fifth on a hit to second by third-year infielder Jeremy Pena, but Texas Tech answered when second-year outfielder Josh Jung hit an opposite field home run to right field. Jung finished the afternoon a triple short of hitting for the cycle.

Trailing 4-1 in the eighth Pena drew a walk and quickly took second on a wild pitch. He would score two batters later on a fielder’s choice by second-year Hernen Sardinas. The run would be the last of the contest for the Black Bears.

Overall, it was third-year infielder Danny Casals leading the way with two hits, while fourth-years Brandon Vicens and Christopher Bec added in hits of their own.

Fourth-year pitcher Justin Courtney went four innings, giving up three runs on six hits, while notching six strikeouts as well. For Texas Tech, it was third-year Pitcher Davis Martin getting the opening start for the second straight year. The Texas native yielded three hits and one run in five innings of work while punching out four.

Maine loses both games of Saturday Doubleheader at Texas Tech

It was a rough go for the Black Bears Saturday afternoon, who fell by scores of 12-1 and 12-5 to the Red Raiders.

The second inning is where things got going for Texas Tech. They got a run on a double by Little, another on a double play, and then Farhat tripled to add a third. The team would tack on another run in the home half of the third, giving them a 4-0 lead. In the fifth Maine cut into the lead. Danny Casals once again led the way. He reached first on a walk and eventually scored Maine’s lone run when he was singled in by Vicens. Second-year Cody Pasic drew two walks and added in his first hit of the season for the team as well.

The Red Raiders would answer with runs in the sixth and seventh and then exploded for five in the eighth. Jung kicked things off in the inning by blasting a two-run homerun to give the them a 9-1 lead. The team would earn another on a double play ball, and first-year KC Simonich drove two more runs in with on a single to right to round out the offensive explosion for the Red Raiders.

The team was backed by good pitching efforts from fourth-year left-handed pitcher Dylan Dusek, who went two and two third innings on the mound, surrendering one run and three hits while fanning two batters. Third-year righty Ty Harpenau tossed three scoreless frames, racking up three strikeouts. First-year Nick Candelari finished off the game with a scoreless ninth, striking out his final batter.

For Maine, third-year left-hander Eddie Emerson took the loss on the mound. Emerson yielded four runs on five hits while giving up six free passes on the day.  

In game two, things went downhill fast for the Black Bears. After plating a run in the top of the first, the Red Raiders responded with nine of their own in the bottom half of the same inning. First-year infielder Gabe Holt set the tone right off the bat, hitting his first home run of his college career over the right field fence. Holt finished a triple shy of the cycle, becoming the second player of the series to bid for the cycle.

Overall the team would add three more homeruns in the inning, giving them four total, the most the team has hit since 1997 when they played Missouri and hit three straight home runs to start the game.

The other longballs in the inning came from Little (two-run home run), third-year Cameron Warren (solo home run) and fourth-year Michael Davis.

The Red Raiders added two more runs in the fourth and another in the seventh, capping off another 12-run output.

On the mound for Texas Tech, was second-year hurler Josh McMillon, who was making his first start of his collegiate career. His debut proved to be a solid one. He finished with a line of five innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out four.

For Maine, the standout was Pena, who tallied three hits on the afternoon, including his first home run of the season. Pena also scored three runs.

Maine split pitching duties between four different players which included third-year Nick Silva and second-years Trevor Delaite, Matthew Pushard and Cody Lawyerson.

To find out whether or not the Black Bears were able to salvage the series, read the online update.

The University of Maine track team had their only home meet of the season, beating both the University of New Hampshire and Husson University.

The UMaine women’s track and field team tallied 130 points total, beating out the Wildcats’ 125 and the Eagles’ 43.

Third-year Taylor Lenentine placed first in the pole vault, with a height of 3.35 m. Fellow third-year Ariel Clachar took first in the long jump (5.44 m), while second-year Vasiliqi Turlla won the high jump (1.49 m). In the triple jump, second-year Anna Schumann joined the fun, earning first in the triple jump with a distance of 11.69 m.

Fourth-year Rachel Bergeron shone in both the weight throw and shot put, taking first in both events. First-year Tuuli Overturf finished in second behind Bergeron in the weight throw, while first-year Sarah Vanacores did the same in the shot put.

Fourth-year Kaitlin Saulter was the standout on the track, taking home first in both the one-mile run (5:03.96) and the 800-meter run (2:20.50). The times were both personal bests for Saulter. Second-year Alison Wyman ended with a time of 5:25.12, which earned her third.

In the 400-meter dash, the Black Bears continued their dominance, sweeping the top three positions. It was second-years Brittany Torchia (58.81), Elisabeth Redwood (59.21) and Catherine Christiansen (1:00.55) who turned in excellent performances.

Third-year Lauren Magnuson took first place honors in the 200-meter dash, ending with a time of 25.62. Kiana Letourneau crossed the line first in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.90.

UMaine also won the 4-x-400-meter relay, with the team of Redwood, Magnuson, Christiansen and first-year Cliodhna O’Malley topping UNH by 17 seconds. They finished with a time of 4:03.09.

Other standouts came in the field events. First-year Elena Ueland took third in the high jump (1.42m), while first-year Abbey Carignan finished fifth in the long jump with a 4.75 meter jump. In the weight throw, Maine’s youth once again shone, with first-year Allison Fayard earning fifth in the weight throw (12.30m).

The women’s team will travel to Boston on Friday, Feb. 23 for the America East Indoor Championships.

On Saturday afternoon, the men’s track and field team (114 points) defeated rival UNH (112 points) and Husson University (53 points).

The 60-meter dash proved to be the Black Bears’ best event. Fourth-year Mozai Nelson, third-year Benjamin Davis and second-year Andrew Smith finished first, second and third respectively. Davis won the 200-meter dash while Johnson finished right behind him for second place honors.

In the 60-meter hurdles, Maine had two top-five finishers. Second-year Colton Santoro earned a time of 8.73, which was good for first place. First-year Eric Fay-Wolf had a time of 8.80, earning him fourth place.

Another highlight for the men was their four-person relay squad, which topped New Hampshire’s team by 28 seconds in the 4-x-400-meter relay. The dominating effort earned them first place.

The team also had success in shot put, with fourth-year Adam Lufkin (15.38m) and third-year Scott Murray (14.84m) taking first and second.

Orach earned a first-place mark in the 800-meter run, finishing with an end time of 1:59.45. Third-year Tucker Corbett finished in third with a time of 2:02.46.

Maine also had two top-five runners in the 500-meter run with second-year Banden Kuusela and fourth-year Logan Moses taking second and fifth respectively.

The men’s team will compete again on Feb. 23 in Boston for the America East Indoor Championships.  

The UMaine men’s swimming and diving team finished off the regular season with a loss to the Providence Friars at Taylor Natatorium on Saturday, Jan. 28. The rival Friars topped the Black Bears by a score of 177-111.

Despite the loss, Maine’s A team shined in the opening event, winning the 200-meter medley relay. First-years Hayden Kasavicha, Jack McNamara, Jacob Ketch and fourth-year Kevin Clyne all contributed to the victory. The final time for the team was 1:48.09, which earned the squad 11 points.

Clyne and Ketch contributed in the 200-meter freestyle as well, helping the team take home second place with an end time of 1:39.09. They were also aided by teammates first-year Andy Sprague and second-year Coulter Morrill.

Clyne also shined in the butterfly, taking home second with a time of 1:59.82, and in the 50-meter freestyle, he earned third place (24.64).

In the 1- and 3-meter dives, first-year Kyle Adams beat out fellow first-year and teammate Ben Sturgis. Adams posted times of 265.57 and 235.65 in the 1- and 3-meter dives respectively.

In the 100-meter freestyle, third-year Alexander Penn finished third with a time of 54.02. He finished a half second behind first-year Friar Sebastian Melendez and a tenth of a second behind second-year Patrick Brannigan

In the 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter medley, Maine once again was helped by one of its newcomers. First-year Kazu Temple finished second in both the events, with times of 1:08.29 and 2:14.11 respectively. The Palo Alto, Calif. native also finished third in the 200-meter medley relay with a time of 1:51.11.

Morrill was able to beat out Temple in the 200-meter breaststroke, edging him out for runner up with a time of 2:29.07. Morrill also played a key role for the men in the 200-meter relay.

In the 800-meter freestyle, first-year Alexander Watson placed second with a time 9:09.70. Watson’s results would wrap up Maine’s top performers on the afternoon.

Women’s swimming loses dual meet at New Hampshire

The UMaine women’s swimming and diving team lost 167-106 on the evening of Friday, Jan.  26, to the Wildcats of New Hampshire at Swasey Pool.

Maine took home first in three events of the night.

In the 500-yard freestyle it was redshirt second-year Gabrielle Murphy finishing with a time of 5:19.21. Her time was good for a first place finish.

In the 100-yard butterfly, fourth-year Victoria Kingston completed the event in 59.08., good for another first place finish.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the squad of fourth-year Emily Borger, second-year Emma Blair, third-year Julianna McDonald and second-year Sabrina Nuttall finished first with an end time of 1:38.69. For the bulk of the swimmers on this team, the action wasn’t over. Along with first-year Rita Chen, Blair, Nuttall and McDonald finished with a time of 1:50.00. Just behind them group of first-year Ines Khiyara, third-year Megan McGillivray, Kingston and Borger, who ended with a time of 1:51.84, which was good for third place.

McGillivray would also earn a second place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, earning a time of 1:00.21. First-year Caroline Strolic finished right behind her in third, registering a time of 1:01.73, and also found herself in second place in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:30.49.

Women’s swim team earns win at Providence

The UMaine women’s swim team ended their regular season on a positive note on the afternoon Saturday, Jan. 27, by beating the Providence Friars 161.5 to 133.5 at Taylor Natatorium.

Both relays were won by Maine on the day. First, it was the A team of McGillivray, Borger, Chen and Nuttall taking home the 200-meter relay posting a time of 2:02.11. The victory earned the team 11 points. The B team consisting of Blair, Khiyara, McDonald and Kingston finished second with an end time of 2:03.67. The Providence A team of third-years Juliet McLaughlin and Abby Czerniecki and first-years Katie Thornton and Lauren Zawacki prevented a Maine sweep.

In the 200-meter freestyle relay, Blair, Chen, Borger and McDonald earned the team 11 more points finishing with a time of 1:49.95. Their performance was good for another first place finish.

In the 100-meter backstroke, first-year Lynsie Russell took home first with a time of 1:06.46. She also earned first place honors in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:28.39. The Maine native picked up second place in the 100-meter butterfly, finishing with a time of 1:06.64. Russell chipped in 24 points overall toward the team’s score.

Along with her help on the B team, Nuttall also earned wins in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke. Fellow teammate Khiyara finished behind her in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:18.65. In the 200-meter breaststroke, it was first-year Caroline Strolic finishing in second behind Nuttall.

McDonald finished in first place for Maine, topping all swimmers in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 1:00.60. Blair finished runner-up with a time of 1:00.77. Blair also won the 50-meter freestyle (27.43) on the day. Her performance would round out all the first place finishes for Maine.

The overall 161.5 points is the most the team has posted since they scored 172 against Rhode Island at the start of the season.

Both the women’s and men’s swimming and diving teams will travel to Worcester Polytechnic Institute on the weekend of Feb. 15, where they will compete in the America East Championships.