ORONO, Maine - The Maine Black Bears faced off against the UMaine-Presque Isle Owls on Tuesday evening and despite not scoring until the fifth inning, the Black Bears took this one by a large margin, defeating UMPI 8-1.

Chris Murphy got the start on the mound for Maine, he went 2.0 innings, allowing two hits, no runs, no walks, and struck out two on 30 pitches. He was relieved by the eventual winning pitcher, Trevor DeLaite, who worked 3.0 innings, allowing two hits, one walk, no runs, as he struck out five batters on 52 total pitches. Also seeing action on the mound for Maine was Ryan Worthington (2.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's, 34 pitches) and Matthew Pushard (2.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K's, 22 pitches). 

The game was a stalemate through the first four and a half innings, until Chris Bec hit a double to left field with Colin Ridley and Jeremy Pena in scoring position, giving Maine a 2-0 lead. Then in the sixth inning, the Black Bear exploded for six runs, with RBIs coming from Hernen Sardinas on a ground out, scoring Brandon Vicens, Pena on an infield single, scoring Caleb Kerbs, Bec with another infield single, scoring Cody Pasic, and Jonathan Bennett scoring Ridley and Bec on a single to left field. The final run for Maine in the inning came on a throwing error allowing Vicens to reach first base, which allowed Tyler Schwanz to score from third base, making it 8-0 Maine.

UMPI would answer back in the top of the seventh on an RBI double to left field, putting the Owls on the board 8-1, but Maine was able to keep any more Presque Isle runs from scoring to take the game by the final score of 8-1.

The Black Bears will travel to Stony Brook for a three-game conference series this weekend with a double header on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. The Black Bears return home on Wednesday, May 3rd for a game with Colby College at 5pm.

-UMaine-