Andover, Mass. - The University of Maine baseball program kicked off their season in the best way possible on Saturday afternoon, pulling off back-to-back wins over Merrimack to start the year 2-0 for the first time since 2008.

Game One

Nicholas Sinacola was simply dazzling in his first appearance of 2021, picking up right where he left off in the shortened 2020 season. The junior right-hander fired 5.2 innings of three-hit baseball, allowing a single run while striking out a devastating 11 of 22 batters faced in the winning effort. Andrew Ruggerio came on in relief, picking up the save with 3.1 innings that saw two hits and one run allowed as Ruggerio cruised to the save credit.

The Maine bats were uncharacteristically hot for the first week of March, as the offense banged out nine runs on eight hits. The middle of the lineup led the way as Scout Knotts and Joe Bramanti had two RBIs each, including a pair of back-to-back home runs in the third inning. Sean Lawlor, Jake Marquez, and Colin Plante also picked up RBIs in the win. 

Game Two

Whereas game one saw Maine's veteran ace rise to the occasion, Coach Nick Derba sent freshman Noah Lewis to the mound for the second game. Lewis was outstanding, tossing six innings and allowing just a single in the second inning and a solo home run in the fifth while striking out five. Matthew Pushard came on to shut the door in the seventh inning, striking out two batters and collecting the save.

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Maine begins the season with a win for the first time since 2016 and starts off 2-0 for the first time since 2008. Maine will look to stay hot and complete the weekend sweep with another doubleheader against Merrimack, this time two nine-inning games starting at noon.