University of Maine
Binghamton
Ninth Inning Heroics Lead Maine to Doubleheader Split
5/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
ORONO, Maine -- Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) hit a game-tying home run to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning and rookie Troy Black (Mississauga, Ontario) hit a walk-off double later in the innings as the University of Maine baseball team split a doubleheader with Binghamton on Friday afternoon. The Black Bears took the second game 2-1, after dropping the first game 8-0 to snap their 11-game winning streak.
In a low-scoring second game, the Bearcats took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the third inning. John Howell walked and scored when Dave Ciocchi singled to center field.
The game remained 1-0 until the bottom of the ninth inning. Justin Leisenheimer led off the inning with a home run high over the left center field fence. For Leisenheimer, it was his team-leading sixth home run of the season. Alex Calbick (Burnaby, British Columbia) then drew a walk before Black doubled down the right field line, driving Calbick home from first base.
Jonathan Balentina (Willemstad, Curacao) got the start and went six innings on the mound. He was impressive as he allowed just one run on four hits while striking out four. Balentina was replaced by junior Keith Bilodeau (Bourne, Mass.). Bilodeau did not allow a hit over three innings. He picks up his ninth win of the season as he improves to 9-2. He becomes the first Black Bear pitcher to win nine games since Steve Richard and Greg Norton accomplished the feat during the 2005 season.
Mike Augliera went six innings and allowed just one hit. He was replaced by Joe Swindells, who allowed four runs over two innings. Morgan Smith allowed two runs on two hits. He falls to 2-1 on the season.
In the first game, Binghamton took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Peter Bregartner hit a two-run homer for the Bearcats. Bill Bereszniewicz, who had led off the game with a walk, scored ahead of Bregartner.
Binghamton extended its lead to 5-0 with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Bereszniewicz singled to right field and Dave Ciocchi drew a walk. Bregartner doubled down the left field line, scoring both runners. Bregartner scored the third run of the inning when Jeff Skelhorne-Gross singled to left field.
Binghamton added to its lead in the top of the seventh inning with three runs. Ciocchi singled and Bregartner followed and was hit. Corey Taylor singled to left field to load the bases. Ciocchi scored when Mike Daneher singled to left field. Bregartner scored when Jordon Smucker drew a bases loaded walk. Taylor scored the third run of the inning when Howell walked.
Jeffrey Gibbs (Toronto, Ontario) got the start on the mound for the Black Bears. He went four innings and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out three. He picks up the loss and falls to 6-5 on the season. Gibbs was replaced by A.J. Bazdanes (Nahsua, N.H.) who went three innings. Bazdanes allowed six runs on seven hits.
James Giulietti started for Binghamton and went five innings. He scattered four hits and improves to 5-5 on the season. He struck out three batters. Lee Sosa pitched a scoreless inning and allowed one hit. Zach Juliano pitched the seventh for the Bearcats and did not allow a hit.
Maine catchers Tyler Patzalek (Burlington, Ontario) and Fran Whitten (Westborough, Mass.) each threw out a pair of Binghamton base runners, while Bilodeau picked a runner off.
The Black Bears and Bearcats will finish their four-game America East series on Saturday, May 21 with a doubleheader starting at 1 PM. Prior to the game, Maine will honor seniors Joe Miller (Valley Stream, N.Y.), Ian Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.), Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) and Joey Martin (Portland, Maine).
