ORONO, ME – The University of Maine baseball team lost their opening contest of the America East Championship against UMass Lowell, 9-7.
 
First Inning: Fritz Genther got the game going for the Riverhawks as he hit a solo home run in the top of the opening frame.
 
Second Inning: Joe Bramanti tied the game up in the bottom of the second frame as he hit a solo home run to left field. Jake Marquez grabbed the lead for the Black Bears as he hit a 2-run double to left field, scoring Scout Knotts and Jeremiah Jenkins. Jordan Schulefand capped off the 4-run inning for the Black Bears as he hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Ryan Turenne.
 
Third Inning: Gerry Siracusa got one back for the Riverhawks as he hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Robert Gallagher. Brandon Fish made it a 1-run game as he singled to right field, scoring Fritz Genther.
 
Joe Bramanti hit his second home run of the contest, a solo home run to left field, to make it a 5-3 contest.
 
Fourth Inning: Quinn McDaniel got the Black Bears on the board for the third-straight inning as he hit a double to right center, scoring Jake Marquez.
 
Ryan Towle's day came to an end during the fourth inning as he lasted 3 and 2/3 innings, allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits, 4 walks and striking out 4.
 
Fifth Inning: Fritz Genther made it a 3-3 day as he hit single to left field, scoring Robert Gallagher.
 
Trevor LaBonte's day came to an end in the frame as he allowed 6 earned runs on 7 hits, 2 walks and striking out 3.
 
The Riverhawks grabbed the lead in the top of the frame as Ryan Proto hit a bases-clearing triple, scoring Fritz Genther, Gerry Siracusa and Brandon Fish. Frank Wayman capped off the 5-run inning by the Riverhawks as he hit a single to right field, scoring Ryan Proto.
 
Sixth Inning: The Black Bears got one back as Joe Bramanti hit into a double play, scoring Jordan Schulefand on the play.
 
Ninth Inning: Frank Wayman added an insurance run in the top of the frame as he hit a double to left center, scoring Ryan Proto.
 
Zach Fortuna (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Riverhawks, allowing 1 run over a 1 and 1/3, allowing 3 hits and a walk.
 
Tyler Nielsen (1-1) took the loss in relief for the Black Bears as he gave up 2 runs on 2 hits, striking out 1 in 1/3 of an inning of relief.

Henry Funaro came in for the ninth frame for the Riverhawks as he picked up his second save of the season, allowing no runs on one hit.
 
Maine, who drops into the loser's bracket of the America East Championships, will play the winner of the Night game on Thursday, May 26.
 
-UMaine-