Box Score Sarasota, FL – The University of Maine baseball team picked up their first win of the 2023 season on Saturday afternoon as they downed the Pittsburgh Panthers, 11-7.
 
First Inning: Jake Rainess got the Black Bears going on the afternoon as he hit a leadoff home run to right field to get the Black Bears on the board first.
 
CJ Funk answered for Pitt in the bottom of the frame as he hit a solo home run of his own.
 
Second Inning: Matt McElwain kept the Black Bears going offensively as his first hit as a Black Bear went to deep left field for a solo home run.
 
Third Inning: The Black Bears added on another run as Connor Goodman (2B) scored on a wild pitch thrown by Ethan Firoved.
 
CJ Funk drove in his second run of the game as he hit a double in the bottom of the frame, scoring Sky Duff.
 
Fourth Inning: The Black Bears got a pair of runners aboard to start the inning, forcing Pitt to go to their bullpen, calling on Jadk Sokol. Ethan Firoved went 3 and 1/3 innings in the start, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, 3 walks and striking out 3.
 
Fifth Inning: Matt McElwain kept his solid Black Bear debut going in the top of the fifth as he drove home another run, this time via a single to left field. Jeff Mejia (1B) scored on the play.
 
Jake Rainess kept the offense going as he drove in a pair of runs on a single to left field, scoring Dylan McNary (1B) and Jake Marquez (HBP). Jeremiah Jenkins brought home another run as he drew a bases loaded walk.
 
Connor Goodman added two more runs to the big inning for the Black Bears he hit a two-run double to left center, scoring Jake Rainess (1B) and Quinn McDaniel (BB).
 
The Black Bears turned to Tyler Nielsen to begin the fifth inning, ending the day for Colin Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald had a solid day for the black Bears, allowing just 2 earned runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and he struck out 3.
 
Maine chased Sokol from the contest in the fifth inning as he allowed 6 earned runs on 5 hits, 3 walks and only 1 strikeout. Holden Phelps was called on in relief.
 
Pitt had a small answer to the six-run top of the frame by the Black Bears as they got three back in the bottom of the frame. Tommy Tavarez doubled home one and Dom Popa doubled home a pair.
 
Sebastian Holt was called on to finish the fifth inning as Nielsen struggled to get out of the frame. Nielsen went 2/3 of an inning, allowing 3 earned runs on 2 hits, 3 walks and striking out 1.
Seventh Inning: Nessler got the Panthers to within two runs as he hit a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Eighth Inning: The Black Bears added onto their lead as Matt McElwain continued his stellar day as he drove in his third run of the contest on a single to left field, scoring Colby Emmertz (BB).
 
Pitt turned to Kyle Demi to finish out the eighth frame. Phelps pitched well in relief as he allowed just one earned run on no hits, 2 walks and striking out 3 across 3 and 1/3 innings of work.
 
The Black Bears turned to Justin Baeyens to wrap up the game over the final two frames of work. Holt had a good day in relief, allowing just 2 earned runs on 4 hits, 1 walk and striking out 2 across 2 and 1/3 innings of relief.
 
Ninth Inning: The Black Bears chased Demi from the game after just 1/3 inning of work as Myles Sargent singled to center field, scoring Quinn McDaniel (BB).
 
Quin Konuszewski was called on in relief.
 
The Black Bears picked up the win on the afternoon, 11-7.
 
Sebastian Holt (1-0) picked up the Black Bears first win of the season.
 
Ethan Firoved (0-1) took the loss in the contest.
 
Justin Baeyens picked up his first save as a Black Bear as he was nearly lights out over his two innings of work, allowing 1 hit, 1 walk and striking out 3 across 2 innings of shutout work.
 
Maine (1-1) will aim to pick up the series victory on Sunday as they wrap up the weekend series against Pitt. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.
 
-UMaine-