Box Score W. Hartford, Conn. -- Nick Sinacola became Maine's single-season strikeout leader after fanning seven on Friday afternoon at Hartford, giving the junior 114 strikeouts on the season. The Black Bears rallied late, but fell in the series opener with the Hawks, 6-5.

Sinacola registered his 109th strikeout of the season in the second inning of Friday's contest, surpassing the previous record of 108 set by Larry Thomas in 1991. Sinacola now stands just five strikeouts shy of matching the single-season America East record of 119.

Joe Bramanti paced the offense with a 3-for-5 showing, two runs scored, and three RBI, including his fifth home run of the season, while Ryan Turenne went 4-for-5 with an RBI.

Hartford jumped out to an early lead after playing a run in the top of the first. Sinacola shut the Hawks out over the next five innings as the Hawks carried a 1-0 edge into the sixth.

Maine was able to knot the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth when Sean Lawlor came in to score on a Jake Marquez sacrifice fly.

The Hawks regained the lead in the seventh on an inside the park grand slam from Donnie Cohoon.

Maine chipped into the lead with a single run in the eighth when Turenne's RBI single brought in Bramanti.

After Hartford plated a run in the home half of the eighth, Maine continued to battle in the ninth. Mejia started the inning with a walk before advancing to second on Connor Goodman's single to left. Two batters later, Bramanti bashed his fifth home run of the season over the center field wall. However, Maine was unable to plate another, falling 6-5 in the opener.

Maine and Hartford are back in action on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

-UMaine-