After scoring eight runs in just two innings during their last series, the University of Maine baseball team’s offense produced 37 runs en route to a three-game sweep over the University of Maryland Baltimore County Saturday and Sunday in Baltimore, Md.
The Black Bears took the doubleheader Saturday with victories of 19-0 in seven innings and 8-7 in 10 innings, and then capped off the sweep with a 10-7 victory Sunday.
In the first game UMaine was able to score early and often behind another solid performance from junior starting pitcher Tommy Lawrence.
The Black Bears used the long ball to score three runs in the top of the second inning to gain the early advantage. After sophomore right fielder Brian Doran singled, junior designated hitter Kyle Silva drilled a two-run home run to center field. Junior third baseman Eric White stepped up next and belted a solo home run to left to make it 3-0.
UMaine continued their production with five runs in the top of the third and then seven more runs in the fourth. In the third, junior first baseman Alex Calbick picked up an RBI double and then scored on a wild pitch. White followed with an RBI single and sophomore left fielder Sam Balzano added a two-run single to extend UMaine’s lead to 8-0.
After the Black Bears loaded the bases in the fourth, senior shortstop Mike Fransoso was able to scamper home on a wild pitch that also advanced runners to second and third. White would bring those runners home shortly thereafter with another home run, his second of the ball game. Later in the inning, junior center fielder Colin Gay connected on the Black Bears second three-run homer of the inning and gave UMaine a 15-0 edge.
The Black Bears would push four more across in the eighth which was more than enough for Lawrence and the UMaine pitching staff.
Lawrence allowed just one hit over five innings while striking out three to grab his sixth win of the season. The Black Bears got scoreless innings from sophomore pitcher Luke Morrill and freshman pitcher Burk Fitzpatrick to preserve the shutout and help UMaine cruise to a 19-0 victory.
The offense continued into game two of the doubleheader, but UMBC’s bats came to life as well to challenge the Black Bears.
UMaine jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Balzano scored on a groundout by Fransoso. The Black Bears added three runs in the top of the second inning. Balzano and junior second baseman Troy Black picked up RBI single and Balzano came home when Gay reached on an error, extending the UMaine lead to 4-0.
But the lead vanished in the bottom half of the frame, as UMBC scored five runs to take a 5-4 lead. Retrievers senior first baseman Tom Gilchrist singled through the right side to drive in the first UMBC run. UMaine coughed up the lead when they committed two errors on a bases clearing, 4 RBI bunt by UMBC junior right fielder Rob McCabe after the Retrievers loaded the bases. UMaine’s costly miscues gave UMBC their first lead of the day at 5-4.
UMaine retook the lead at 6-5 in the third when a double play ball plated Calbick and Doran scored on a passed ball. Balzano added another RBI single in the eighth to give UMaine an insurance run and make it 7-5.
UMBC knotted the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth when junior catcher Brandon Coluccio sent a two-run single up the middle off Black Bears freshman reliever Logan Fullmer.
The Black Bears would strike back with the game winner in the next half inning as White led off the bottom of the 10th with a home run to left field — his third of the day — and sealed the 8-7 win.
UMaine senior starter A.J. Bazdanes turned in another strong outing. The righty allowed five runs — two earned — on just six hits and struck out four in six and one third innings. Morrill got the win after getting the last two outs of the ninth and freshman Jake Marks picked up his first save with a clean 10th.
In the third game on Sunday, the Black Bears scored 10 runs in the final four innings to overcome a 5-0 deficit and defeat the UMBC Retrievers 10-7.
After three scoreless innings, UMBC was able to jump out to the early lead when they plated four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore third baseman Jake Barnes kick started the UMBC offense with a leadoff home run to left field. Senior center fielder Tom Gilchrist ripped an RBI single through the left side and sophomore first baseman Anthony Gatto doubled down the left field line. UMBC would add another run in the fifth on an RBI single from senior designated hitter Jason Allinder to give UMBC a comfortable 5-0 cushion.
UMaine got on the board in the top of the sixth inning on a Balzano sacrifice fly, grabbing another three runs in the seventh to get within a run. White continued his tormenting of UMBC pitching with an RBI single. Two batters later, freshman shortstop Shane Bussey drilled a two-run single to left to make it 5-4.
The Black Bears took their first lead of the day with three runs in the eighth and added insurance with three more in the ninth. After walking the bases loaded, sophomore designated hitter Scott Heath reached on an error that plated two runs for the Black Bears. White then stepped in and produced a sacrifice fly to propel the Black Bears ahead. Calbick ripped a two-run double in the ninth, and Doran added an RBI double of his own to make it 10-5.
After junior starting pitcher Shaun Coughlin got through the first four innings for UMaine, Connolly came in and held UMBC scoreless over four innings to allow the Black Bears to get back in the game. Connolly got just one out in the ninth and was pulled after giving up two runs. Marks picked up his second save of the series recording the final two outs to give the Black Bears the 10-7 comeback victory.
The 21-14 Black Bears return to action Tuesday, April 16 when they host Colby College at 4 p.m. UMaine returns to conference play on Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21, as they host America East rival Stony Brook University.