The Black Bears Baseball team played host in an interstate matchup against Thomas College at the Mahaney Diamond on Tuesday afternoon. Thomas College, which sits a division lower than Maine, just didn’t have anything for Maine as the Black Bears jumped to an 8-1 lead by the end of the 4th inning and never looked back, collecting the win 11-3.
Thomas College found themselves ahead 1-0 early after the first inning, thanks to a Maine throwing error that allowed a run to score. Maine would respond in the bottom of the second with the bases loaded. Second-year shortstop Jeremy Pena hit a deep shot that would allow him to tally up a bases-clearing triple, as first-year third baseman Cody Pasic, second-year second baseman Caleb Kerbs and first-year first baseman Hernen Sardinas all came across home plate to score three runs for the Black Bears. A wild throw into third base trying to pick off Pena would allow Pena to scurry home, giving Maine a 4-1 lead after two innings.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Maine would chalk up four more runs to extend their lead, when fourth-year left fielder Colin Ridley would blast a grand slam over the right field wall on the first pitch he saw, scoring Pasic, Kerbs and Pena to give Maine an 8-1 lead that they would not give up.
Maine wasn’t done just yet, as they would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on two bases-loaded walks and a wild pitch. The two walks would give RBIs respectively to fourth-year center fielder Lou Della Fera and Sardinas and the wild pitch scored third-year catcher Jonathan Bennett from third base. The Black Bears would hold the lead 11-1 after six innings.
Thomas would show signs of life, getting back two runs in the top of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly to right field and a runner taking home from third on a wild pitch. Maine pitching would settle in and help give the Black Bears the 11-3 victory and improve Maine’s overall record to 14-19 on the season.
Maine’s first-year starting pitcher Trevor DeLaite was able to earn his first win of his young career, putting his record to 1-2 as he went 4.0 innings, allowing one earned run, four hits, one walk and striking out three. Third-year pitcher Zach Winn came in to relieve for DeLaite and looked sharp in 2.0 innings of work, surrendering just one hit and striking out two Thomas batters. First-year pitcher Ryan Worthington also pitched 2.0 innings, giving up one hit, one walk, two earned runs and striking out two. First-year pitcher Matthew Pushard came in to close for the Black Bears and retired three of the four batters he faced, walking one.
“It was a good win,” Head Coach Nick Derba stated after the victory. “I loved our defense and our pitching, we have the the potential to be very explosive offensively, and we showed that potential today.”
The Black Bears are in action this weekend on the road against Binghamton and will return to the friendly confines of the Mahaney Diamond Tuesday, April 25 when they will meet the University of Maine Presque Isle.
