ORONO, Maine – In the final game of the 2018 regular season, the University of Maine baseball team fell to America East foe Hartford, 12-7, on Saturday afternoon at Mahaney Diamond.
 
The Black Bears wrap up the regular season at 18-31 overall and 12-12 in league play while the Hawks finish at 23-29 overall and 16-8 in the conference.
 
Christopher Bec led Maine with four hits and one run scored while Hernen Sardinas and Brandon Vicens each had two hits and scored twice. Vicens finished with two RBIs on the strength of a two-run home run while Sardinas also had an RBI. Colin Ridley, Cody Pasic and Jeremy Pena each had one hit apiece, with Pena extending his hitting streak to 13 games.
 
The Black Bears had a 2-0 lead after the first inning thanks to two sacrifice flys from Danny Casals and Jonathan Bennett. And while the Hawks were able to tie it up 2-2 in the top of the second, Maine put together a strong third to run out to a 6-2 lead. Sardinas' double scored Pena – who had reached on his first of his two hit by pitches on the day – and then he himself stole home as part of a double-steal with Bec. Vicens two-run shot to right made it a four-run lead.
 
The 6-2 lead stayed in Maine's favor until the top of the fifth, when the Hawks made it a one-run game thanks to a three-run home run, and then the visitors took the lead for good in the sixth with another three-run inning.
 
The Hawks put four runs on the board in the visitor half of the eighth for a 12-6 cushion. Pasic notched an RBI single in the bottom of the frame but that would be the final run for Maine on the day.
 
Trevor DeLaite started for Maine, pitching 4 1/3 innings while allowing five runs on six hits. Connor Johnson (2-3) pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing three runs on three hits in taking the loss. Seth Pinkerton (2-3) earned the win for Hartford with his three innings of scoreless relief.
 
Maine will now await to find out its seeding and opponent in the America East Tournament, which begins Wednesday, May 23, at Mahaney Diamond. -UMaine-