ALBANY, NY – The University of Maine baseball team took game 1 of the series over UAlbany on Friday afternoon, 12-10.
 
First Inning: Scout Knotts got the Black Bears off to a hot start as he hit a grand slam, his second grand slam of the season, to get Maine up 4-0 in the top of the frame. Jeremiah Jenkins, Quinn McDaniel and Joe Bramanti came around to score on the home run.
 
The Great Danes would have an answer in the bottom of the frame as Michael Whalen hit a 3-run home run, bringing home Brad Malm and Johnny Marti on the play, to make it a 4-3 game.
 
Fourth Inning: Jordan Schulefand made it 6-3 Black Bears as he hit a 2-run home run to left field, driving in Mike Pratte on the play.
 
Ray Weber's outing came to an end after 4 innings of work, as he allowed 6 earned runs on 5 hits, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.
 
Fifth Inning: Joe Bramanti made it 7-3 Maine as he scored on a wild pitch thrown by Chase Carroll. UAlbany's defense would struggle in the inning as their second error of the inning, this one on a Mike Pratte grounder, resulted in 2-runs scoring for the Black Bears, Scout Knotts and Ryan Turenne. Another run would come home during the Jordan Schulefand at-bat as a passed ball allowed Connor Goodman to score.
 
The Great Danes would get one back in the bottom of the frame as Johnny Marti hit a solo home run to make it 10-4.
 
Sixth Inning: The Black Bears would start to pull away again as Connor Goodman hit an RBI double to left field, driving in Joe Bramanti. Jake Marquez would follow with an RBI single to right, bringing in Goodman, making it 12-4 Black Bears.
 
Seventh Inning: Trevor Labonte's outing came to an end as he pitched into the seventh inning, finishing with 6 innings pitched, allowing 5 earned runs on 10 hits, 2 walks and striking out 2.
 
Brad Malm later came into score in the inning on a wild pitch by Tyler Nielsen. Michael Whalen would come into score on a wild pitch thrown by Colin Fitzgerald.
 
Eighth Inning: Michael Whalen got the Great Danes to within 4 as he hit a 2-run single to left field, plating Brad Malm and Josh Loeffler.
 
Ninth Inning: Chris Fisher made it a 12-10 game in the bottom of the frame as he hit an RBI single to right field, bringing home John Daly and Jason Bottari.
 
The Black Bears would come away with the victory, 12-10.
 
Trevor Labonte (3-3) grabbed the win for the Black Bears.
 
Ray Weber (2-5) took the loss for the Great Danes.
 
Matthew Pushard picked up his 4^th save of the season for the Black Bears, throwing 2/3 of the an inning, stranding the bases loaded to end the contest.
 
These two teams will square off again on Saturday, April 16 for game 2 of the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.
 
-UMaine-