ROCK HILL, South Carolina - The Black Bears held a lead for eight and a half innings over Winthrop, but were unable to stop the Wintrop offense in the bottom of the eighth as they scored the game-tying and game-winning run, taking the game by a final score of 3-2.
The Black Bears started former-closer
Nick Silva on the mound; he went 6.0 innings, allowing only four hits, one earned run, five walks, and five strikeouts.
The Black Bears got on the board early scoring their two runs in the top of the first inning; Tyler Schawnz led the game off with a single, and advanced to second with a
Jeremy Pena ground-out. He would advance to third base on a
Danny Casals single. Schwanz would score when
Christopher Bec hit an RBI double, sending Casals to third base. Casals would then score on a
Jonathan Bennett ground-out to second base, giving Maine a quick 2-0 lead.
Maine would shut out Winthrop until the bottom of the fifth, when Silva gave up his only earned run on an RBI triple, and after a two-out walk, struck out a batter to end the inning. Maine led 1-0
going into the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Trevor Delaite came into the game in relief of Silva, struck out his first batter, had the second batter fly-out to center field, and the last batter grounded out to short stop, as he retired all three batters faced in the contest.
In the bottom of the eighth, Cody Lawyerson came into the game to start the inning, giving up one hit and two earned runs in the inning;
Jeff Gelinas would come into the game with one out in the eighth inning to try and get out of the jam, but a wild pitch and an RBI single would knock in the two Winthrop base-runners. Winthrop led 3-2 after the end of eight.
Maine was unable to come back in the top of the ninth as Winthrop took game three by a score of 3-2, sweeping the series. Cody Lawyerson was given the loss for Maine, while Winthrop relief pitcher Nate Pawelxzyk gets the win for the Eagles; he went 2.0 innings, allowing no hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts.
Maine is back in action next weekend, February 24th at 3:00pm as they begin the Del Ray Invitational with a game against Central Connecticut.
-UMaine-
