University of Maine
Binghamton
Black Bears Sweep Binghamton to End Regular Season on Senior Day
5/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine baseball team swept a doubleheader from Binghamton on Saturday afternoon, winning the first game 6-5, before taking the second game 7-2. Maine, the second seed in the upcoming America East Tournament, enters the tournament having won 14 of its last 15 games. The Black Bears are 29-22 on the season and finish 18-6 in America East play. Binghamton falls to 21-26 on the season, 13-10 in conference play. Rookie pitcher Shaun Coughlin (Northfield, Conn.) earned the victory in both games of the doubleheader.
In the first game, Binghamton jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Corey Taylor homered to left field.
Maine scored a run in the bottom of the second. Tyler Patzalek (Burlington, Ontario) led off the inning with a single to right center and Alex Calbick (Burnaby, British Columbia) followed with a single to left field. Ian Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) had a bunt single to load the bases. Patzalek scored when Fran Whitten (Westborough, Mass.) grounded out.
Taylor Lewis (Montville, Conn.) reached second on an error to lead off the bottom of the third inning. Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) followed and drew a walk. Joey Martin (Portland, Maine) then reached on a bunt single. On the play, the Binghamton pitcher threw the ball into right field, allowing both Lewis and Fransoso to score.
Binghamton took the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Jordon Smucker and Bill Bereszniewicz each had bunt singles. Dave Ciocchi then singled to second base to load the bases. Smucker scored on a wild pitch. Bereszniewicz and Ciocchi both scored when Peter Bregartner singled to center field.
The Black Bears tied the game in the bottom of the frame. Fransoso doubled down the right field line. He then stole third base and scored when Joey Martin hit a sacrifice fly.
Binghamton grabbed the lead back in the top of the sixth inning. Smucker and Mike Thompson each had singles up the middle. Bereszniewicz then doubled down the left field line plating Smucker.
Again, Maine wasted no time in knotting the score at 5-5. Calbick led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double to left field. He moved to third on an Ian Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt and scored on a passed ball.
Maine won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) singled to left field. Tyler Patzalek reached on an error. The third baseman threw the ball into right field, allowing Leisenheimer to score from first base with the winning run.
Kevin Scanlan (Sudbury, Mass.) started the game on the mound for the Black Bears and went 5.1 innings. He allowed five runs on 12 hits while striking out three. Scanlan was replaced by Shaun Coughlin, who went 1.2 innings. Coughlin did now allow a hit and picks up the win, improving to 2-1 on the season.
Jay Lynch went five innings and allowed four runs, two of which were earned, on eight hits. He stuck out four. He was replaced by Lee Sosa. Sosa allowed two runs, neither of which was earned, on three hits over 1.2 innings. He falls to 0-2 on the season.
In the second game, Maine grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Fransoso singled to left field and scored when Justin Leisenheimer belted his team-leading seventh home run of the season, high over the left field fence.
Binghamton tied the game in the top of the third inning. Mike Thompson doubled and scored when Daniel Nevares singled to center field. Nevares tied the game at 2-2 when Mike Danaher hit a sacrifice fly.
Maine regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fransoso walked and Martin had a bunt single. Fransoso advanced to third on an error on the play, while Martin moved up to second with nobody covering the base. Patzalek singled to right center field, scoring both Fransoso and Martin. Mike Connolly (Middleborough, Mass.) doubled to left field and Patzalek moved to third. Both runners scored on a Colin Gay (Franklin, Mass.) single to center field, giving the Black Bears a 6-2 advantage.
The Black Bears added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Fransoso doubled to right field and scored when Justin Leisenheimer singled through the left side.
Joe Miller (Valley Stream, N.Y.) got the start on the mound for the Black Bears. He went five innings and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out a pair. He was replaced by Shaun Coughlin. Coughlin went 2.2 innings and allowed a pair of hits. He picks up the win and improves to 3-1 on the season. He was replaced by D.J. Voisine (Plainville, Conn.). Voisine pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Black Bears and did not allow a hit.
Chris Nagorski went five innings on the mound for the Bearcats. He allowed a pair of runs on six hits. He struck out three batters. Nagorski was replaced by Mark Palumbo who went an inning and allowed four runs on four hits. He was replaced by Alex Adami. Adami allowed a run on a pair of hits in an inning. Zach Juliano pitched the bottom of the eighth for the Bearcats and did not allow a hit.
Before the game, Maine honored seniors Joe Miller (Valley Stream, N.Y.), Ian Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.), Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) and Joey Martin (Portland, Maine).
Maine will next face Binghamton in the first round of the 2011 America East Tournament on Wednesday, May 25. The tournament will be hosted by Stony Brook. Game time has yet to be determined.
