Maine Takes Two In Saturday’s Twin Bill

ORONO, Maine – In Saturday’s conference doubleheader, the hosting Maine Black Bears captured both wins over the University at Albany baseball team by scores of 4-1 and 7-4. UAlbany (7-13, 3-5) will look to rebound on Sunday in the series finale at Maine (15-13, 6-2).

In game one, the Black Bears took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, using three singles, a walk, and a run-scoring wild pitch in the frame.

UAlbany responded in the top of the third, as Matt Hinchy lined a leadoff double, advanced on D.J. Hoagboon’s single up the middle and scored on Gordon Madej’s sac fly to left field.

However, Maine negated the run in the bottom half of the frame, as Michael Fransoso drew a leadoff walk, stole both second and third, and tagged home on a sacrifice fly, making the score 3-1.

Using Troy Black’s leadoff single and Sam Balzano’s two-out liner to left, the Black Bears took a 4-1 advantage in the fourth and held on for the win in the seven-inning contest.

Tommy Lawrence (4-2) earned the win for Maine, throwing the complete game, allowing one run, seven hits, while striking out five.

For UAlbany, Cameron Sorgie (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs, five hits, while striking out three in five innings of work. Out of the pen, Andrew Jaurique threw the final scoreless frame.

Offensively, Jeff Welsh (2-for-3) led the Great Danes with two hits, including a double, as the team combined to outhit Maine, 7-6.

In the nightcap, UAlbany took the initial lead with a single run in the second. Josh Nethaway led off with a double to left field and scored on Welsh’s RBI single, also to left.

Maine immediately answered with a game-tying run in the bottom of the second, stringing together two singles and a fielder’s choice.

The Great Danes recaptured the lead in the fourth, as Madej reached on a leadoff single to left field, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Evan Harasta’s misplayed grounder to second.

However, that would be UAlbany’s last lead of the game. In the bottom of the fourth, Maine plated two runs, lining three of their 15 total hits in the game, for a 3-2 advantage.

The Black Bears made it 5-2 in the seventh with two unearned runs. Maine loaded the bases with a leadoff walk, error, and hit by pitch, setting up Brian Doran’s two-run scoring single.

UAlbany looked to rally in the eighth, cutting the deficit to one, 5-4, as Madej, Nethaway, Welsh, and Harasta, lined four consecutive singles with two outs.

However, the hosts played copy-cat, also scoring two runs in the eighth with four singles of their own. With a 7-4 lead, reliever, Shaun Coughlin sat the Great Danes down in order in the ninth, preserving the victory for Maine.

A.J. Bazdanes (3-3) earned the win, hurling seven and two-thirds, allowing four runs (three earned), six hits, while striking out four. Coughlin was awarded the save.

For the Great Danes, Kasceim Graham (3-3) took the loss, going seven innings on the hill, allowing five runs (three earned), 11 hits and struck out one. Reliever Brendan Ryan threw the final frame, allowing two runs.

At the plate, Nethaway (3-for-4), Madej (2-for-4), Welsh (2-for-4), and Harasta (1-for-4) accounted for UAlbany’s eight hits in the contest.

The Great Danes will look to bounce back in Sunday’s series finale, set to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Mahaney Diamond.