CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Maine baseball team took an early 1-0 lead over the University of Miami, but a two-run fourth would prove to be all the Hurricanes would need en route to a 7-1 win on Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field.
Brandon Vicens went 2-for-4 Maine with a double and a triple and earned three walks as well while
Danny Casals went 2-for-4.
Colin Ridley knocked in Maine's run, with
Jonathan Bennett coming around to score it.
Christopher Bec,
Hernen Sardinas, and
Kevin Doody added hits for the Black Bears.
For the second day in a row, Maine struck first, this time in its first at-bat. With the bases loaded and two outs,
Colin Ridley singled towards second base to drive in Bennett. Bennett had reached on a hit-by-pitch before Bec singled and Vicens walked to load them for Ridley. Evan McKendry would get the final out before Maine could add another.
Maine starter
Chris Murphy faced a bases loaded situation with one out in the bottom of the second, but he struck out one batter and forced the next to ground out to
Jeremy Pena to keep the 1-0 lead intact through four and a half.
In the bottom of the fourth, though, Willy Escala singled and then stole second and third before Isaac Quinones earned a walk off of Murphy. Tony Jenkins then tripled to deep left, with both Escala and Quinones coming around for a 2-1 Miami lead heading into the fifth.
Vicens had a triple in the fifth inning for Maine but was stranded at third in the top of the inning. In the bottom of the inning, the Hurricanes broke away with a four-run frame. First Dylan Cloonan scored on an Alex Toral single to right.
John Arels came in for Murphy and struck out the first batter he faced in in the bases loaded situation in Escala. But the next man up – Quinones – doubled down the line to clear the bags and give Miami the 6-1 lead.
The Hurricanes (5-6) would add a run in the bottom of the eight on a bases loaded walk to take a 7-1 lead into the top of the ninth.
The Black Bears (3-8) didn't go quietly – with Sardinas singling up the middle and then Vicens getting his second extra-base hit of the day with a double – but couldn't lessen the deficit.
Murphy went 4.1 innings for Maine, allowing six runs on four hits while striking out four and walking six. Arel went 2.2 innings in relief, allowing four hits and striking out three, while
Ben Terwilliger pitched the eighth for Maine, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout. Murphy took the loss for the Black Bears.
Maine is back in action next weekend at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
-UMaine-
