University of Maine
Rider
Baseball Drops Doubleheader at Rider
3/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- The University of Maine baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Rider on Saturday afternoon in Lawrenceville, N.J. The Black Bears lost the first game 7-2, before falling in the second game 9-2. Maine falls to 5-15 on the season, while Rider improves to 10-7.
In the first game, Rider jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Brandon Cotten led of the inning with a walk. Ian Lindsay singled to left field and AJ Albee followed with a single to load the bases. Cotten scored an a sacrifice fly. Albee and Linsday both scored on a dropped foul ball. The Broncs added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Nick Crecenzo had a RBI double in the inning.
Maine got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when Fran Whitten (Westborough, Mass.) belted his third home run of the season.
Rider got the run back in the bottom of the sixth when Adam Wayman walked and scored when Cotten doubled down the left field line.
Maine made it a 7-2 final with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) doubled to right center field and scored when Robbie Trask (Saco, Maine) singled down the left field line.
Keith Bilodeau (Bourne, Mass.) got the start for the Black Bears and went five innings. He allowed six runs, four of which were earned, on seven hits. He struck out three batters. Bilodeau falls to 2-1 on the season. Jonathan Balentina (Willemstad, Curacao) pitched the sixth inning for Maine. He allowed one run on one hit. Patrick Devlin went all seven innings for RIder. He improves to 2-1 on the season. He allowed two runs on three hits while striking out five.
In the second game, Rider got on the board with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Cotten singled to shortstop and then stole second. He scored when Mason Heyne singled to right field.
Maine tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning. Alex Calbick (Burnaby, British Columbia) reached on an error by the shortstop. He advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch and scored when Justin Leisenheimer grounded out. Maine took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Justin Leisenheimer was hit-by-a-pitch. Eric White (Brewer, Maine) followed and drew a walk, advancing Leisenheimer to second base. He scored when Pat Thibodeau (Caribou, Maine) singled down the left field line.
Rider, however, scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead back. John Ralson singled and advanced to second when Cotten singled. Karl Johnston then reached on an error and Ralston scored. Cotten and Johnson scored when A.J. Albee hit a two-run double. Albee scored the fourth run of the inning when Crescenzo singled.
Rider scored four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a 9-2 final.
Jeffrey Gibbs (Toronto, Ontario) went 3.1 innings on the mound. He allowed five runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits. He struck out three and falls to 2-3 on the season. Shaun Coughlin (Northfield, Conn.) went 2.1 innings and allowed two runs, just one of which was earned, on three hits. Joe Miller (Valley Stream, N.Y.) allowed a pair of runs on three hits. Fran Whitten faced one batter and retired him.
Nate Eppley got the win for Rider. He went six innings and allowed two runs, one of which was earned, on two hits. Jeff Giordano pitched the seventh and did not allow a hit.
Maine and Rider complete their four-game series on Sunday, March 20. First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.
-U-M-
