University of Maine
Lafayette
Bats Come Alive as Maine Baseball Downs Lafayette 18-10
4/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
EATON, Pa.—The University of Maine baseball team had its bats come alive on Thursday afternoon as it downed Lafayette 18-10 in Eaton, Pa. Twice the Black Bears came back from four or more run deficits in the game. Maine tied the school record for doubles in a game with nine against the Leopards.
The Black Bears improve to 17-22 on the season, while Lafayette falls to 11-24-1.
Lafayette jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
The Black Bears responded to knot the score at 4-4 in the top of the second inning. Luke Morrill (South Thomaston, Maine) singled to right field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Brian Doran (Ayr, Ontario) followed with a double driving home Morrill. Brenden Geary (South Hadley, Mass.) doubled and Doran scored. Geary moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Shane Bussey (Boynton Beach, Fla.) doubled to right field. Bussey tied the game when Sam Balzano (Portland, Maine) doubled.
Lafayette, however, continued the scoring with five runs in the bottom of the second inning to extend its lead to 9-4. Tim Lazor had a two-run home run in the frame.
Maine answered back in the top of the third inning. Scott Heath (Westbrook, Maine) was hit to lead off the inning. Brett Chappell (Rock Fall, Ill.) followed with a single to right field. Heath scored when Morrill belted his second hit of the game, a double to center field. Chappell scored when Geary reached on a fielder's choice, bringing Maine to within three runs at 9-6.
After sending Lafayette down one-two-three in the bottom of the third inning, Maine took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Balzano singled, moved to second on an error and third on a wild pitch. He scored when Steven Adam (Tecumseh, Ontario) singled. Adam scored when Morrill doubled to left field. Doran drew a walk. Morrill and Doran both scored when Kevin Stypulkowski (Lake Worth, Fla.) doubled.
Maine scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Doran singled up the middle and Stypulkowski drew a walk. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Doran scored when Bussey singled to center field. Stypulkowski scored when Balzano grounded out. Bussey scored the third run of the inning when Adam singled to center field. Heath then singled and Chappell had a RBI double driving home Adam, giving Maine a 14-9 lead.
Lafayette got a run in the bottom of the sixth. Drew Aherne walked and Michael Coniglio followed with a RBI double to left field.
Maine continued its offense in the top of the eighth inning. Balzano led off the inning with a single, moved to third on an error on the play and scored when Adam singled. Heath walked and scored on a wild pitch.
Maine capped the scoring with two runs in the top of the ninth inning. Stypulkowski doubled to left center field. Danny Diaz (Miami, Fla.) followed with a pinch-hit home run to left center, extending Maine's lead to 18-10.
Clay Conaway (Georgetown, Del.) got the start on the mound for Maine. He went four innings and allowed nine runs, just four of which were earned, on seven hits. Jeff Gelinas (Saco, Maine) replaced Conaway on the mound and earned the win. He improves to 3-1 on the season. Gelinas surrendered one run on three hits over 1.2 innings. Connor Johnson (Taunton, Mass.) went 3.1 innings in relief to earn the save, his second of the season. He did not allow a hit while striking out four batters.
Lafayette used five pitchers in the game. Mitch Leeds got the start and allowed six runs on seven hits over two innings. Alex Farina suffered the loss to the Leopards.
Maine returns to action on Friday, May 1 when it starts a four game series with N.Y.I.T. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 PM.
