Box Score Sarasota, FL – The University of Maine baseball team had their ninth inning rally come up short as they were defeated by Pitt on Friday afternoon, 11-10.
 
First Inning: The Black Bears came out in the first inning and got their first runs of the season in a hurry as Jeremiah Jenkins hit a two-run home run to right field in the top of the first inning, scoring Quinn McDaniel (walk) in the process.
 
Caleb Leys came out in the bottom of the inning and struck out the first two batters he faced in the frame before Pitt got something going, drawing three walks and hitting a double to right field, scoring one run in the bottom of the frame.
 
Second Inning: Pitt scored a pair in the bottom of the second inning as Sky Duff hit a two-run double to center field before getting thrown out trying to go to third.
 
Third Inning: Pitt scored their fourth run of the afternoon on an RBI groundout by Anthony Lasala.
 
Caleb Leys day came to an end for the Black Bears in the bottom of the third. He pitched 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing 5 hits, 4 earned runs and picked up 2 strikeouts.
 
Luc Lavigueur came in in relief, getting out of the inning stranding the bases loaded.
 
Fourth Inning: Jeremiah Jenkins led off the fourth inning in a big way for the Black Bears as he launched his second home run of the day to right field and giving him three RBIs for the game.
 
Pitt answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame as Tommy Tavaraez hit an RBI double, AJ Nessler hit a sac fly and Johnny Long III scored on an error.
 
Fifth Inning: Dylan Simmons began the inning on the mound for Pitt, spelling the end of the day for Kyle Mosley. Mosley threw 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 3 walks and struck out 5.
 
Following back-to-back singles by Dylan McNary and Mike Pratte, Jake Rainess got the Black Bears on the board in the fifth with a third-straight single, this one going to center, scoring McNary (1B).
 
Jeremiah Jenkins added another RBI to his total on the day as he drove home Mike Pratte (1B) on a single to right field. Connor Goodman made it a one-run game as he hit a sac fly to score Quinn McDaniel (walk).
 
Jeff Mejia completed the four-run inning for the Black Bears as he hit an RBI-double down the left field line, scoring Jenkins (1B) and tying the contest up at 7-7. The Black Bears chased Simmons from the game in the same inning he entered as they tagged him for 4 runs on 4 hits and two walks across 2/3 of the fifth inning. Jonathan Bautista entered in relief.
 
Luc Lavigueur's day in relief came to an end during the fifth inning as Colton Carson came in for relief. Lavigueur went 1 and 2/3 innings in his collegiate debut, allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits and 4 walks.
 
Eighth Inning: The Black Bears loaded the bases up on Jonathan Bautista, forcing him to be pulled and replaced by Nash Bryan. Bautista finished with 3 innings of relief, allowing 2 hits, 1 walk and striking out 1. Bryan came in and sat down the first batter he faced, getting Pitt of the inning.
 
Colton Carson's relief appearance came to an end in the bottom of the eighth as he was dominate for the Black Bears, allowing 2 unearned runs on just 3 hits and 1 walk over three frames of work. He struck out 5. Justin Baeyens came in with 1 out in the eighth inning.
 
CJ Funk drew a bases loaded walk in the frame to bring home the go-ahead run in the inning. Two more runners came home to score on an error by the Black Bears. Pitt capped of the inning with a fourth run on a double steal.
 
All of Baeyens runs allowed in the eighth inning were unearned.
 
Ninth Inning: Quinn McDaniel got the Black Bears going in the top of the final frame as he hit a two-run home run to make it a 11-9 game. Jake Rainess (1B) scored on the play.
 
The Black Bears got into a bases loaded situation, forcing Bryan Nash out of the contest. Nash finished with 2/3 of an inning worth of work, allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits and a walk. Brady Devereux was called on in relief.
 
Nick White brought home a run in his first at-bat as a Black Bear as he hit an RBI fielder's choice, scoring Jeremiah Jenkins (1B).
 
Colton Carson (0-1) ended up taking the loss for the Black Bears.
 
Bryan Nash (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Pitt.
 
Brady Devereux picked up his first save of the season as he sat down both batters he faced in the ninth, striking out 1.
 
Maine (0-1) will remain in Sarasota as they are set to take on Pitt in game two of the weekend series on Saturday, Feb. 18. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
 
-UMaine-