ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine pitching staff combined to allow just three runs in a doubleheader, the but Black Bears could only settle for a split in Friday's matinee twin bill at Mahaney Diamond.
Behind an impressive performance from
Cody Laweryson on the mound, as the Black Bears (15-31, 11-11 AE) earned a 4-1 win. In the nightcap, the Bearcats (22-22, 11-9 AE) would strike for a late run in the top of the seventh, spoiling a Maine sweep on senior game with a 2-1 victory.
Hernen Sardinas (4-for-8) and
Mike Sabatine (4-for-6) both registered four hits and an RBI to lead the Black Bears.
Cody Pasic drove in two runs on the day, while
Joe Bramanti also drove in a run.
Ryan Turenne (3-for-6) and
Danny Casals (2-for-7) also registered multi-hit days.
Prior to the first game, the University of Maine athletic department honored seniors
Bobby Brennan,
Danny Casals,
Justin Courtney,
Caleb Kerbs,
Colin Ridley and
Nick Silva. The Class of 2019 has combined to record 471 hits, 261 runs, 260 RBIs, 97 doubles and 39 home runs. The combination of Courtney and Silva on the mound has resulted in a total of 383 strikeouts and 24 wins. The Black Bears have won 98 games over the past five seasons under their watch.
Laweryson (W, 5-5) earned the win in game one, pitching seven strong innings, while scattering seven hits and an earned run. He struck out six, while walking just two.
Matthew Pushard pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing just one baserunner on a walk.
Trevor DeLaite shut the door on Binghamton in the ninth, picking up his seventh save of the season.
Binghamton threatened to score in the top of the first, as the Bearcats put runners on the corners. Laweryson would force the final batter to foul out to escape the frame.
Sardinas would blast his America East leading 11
th home run of the season to give Maine an early lead. Casals would double later in the inning, but he would be stranded on second.
In the top of the third, Binghamton would tie the contest up at 1-1 after smacking a triple and double to lead off the inning. Laweryson would prevent any additional runs in the frame, stranding two runners in scoring position.
The contest was not tied for long, as Sardinas would triple to right to begin the top of the fourth. Pasic would send a deep fly ball to right to score Sardinas, as Maine owned the lead once again. After Casals followed with a single, a Bramanti RBI double would score Casals from first, as Maine took a 3-1 advantage.
Kerbs and Turenne would collect one out singles in the bottom of the eighth, as Sabatine came through with an RBI single to left field to score Kerbs, adding an insurance run to the Black Bear lead.
DeLaite allowed a one-out walk, but a fielder's choice and a groundout would end the contest, as Maine picked up the game one win.
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Nick Silva (L, 4-6) pitched all seven innings in game two, allowing just two earned runs on four hits. He struckout seven, walking just two Bearcats.
TJ Wegmann put Binghamton on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning with a leadoff solo home run to right field. Maine responded back in the home half of the frame, as back-to-back one out singles from Sabatine and
Jeffrey Omohundro would put two Black Bears on base. After a flyout, Pasic would single home Sabatine to tie the contest up at 1-1.
The pitcher's duel between Silva and Binghamton's Nick Gallagher and Jack Collins would continue, as both teams faced in the minimum in the fourth, fifth and sixth. Sabatine made a tremendous diving catch in the top of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, back-to-back singles and a wild pitch with one out would put two runners in scoring position. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Silva forced a groundball to short, but Maine could not turn a double play, as Binghamton took the lead on the fielder's choice. Silva would strikeout the next batter out with the bases loaded on a full count, keeping the score a one-run game.
Bramanti walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but a pair of strikeouts and a groundout would end the contest.
The Black Bears and Bearcats meet for the regular season finale tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. Prior to first pitch, the University of Maine Baseball team will honor 1964 College World Series Most Outstanding Player Joe Ferris on the Wall of Legends. Pregame festivities are set to begin at 10:35 a.m. For more information, click here.
-UMaine-
