Ruston, LA – The University of Maine baseball team was defeated on opening day at LA Tech.

Black Bears Scoring Breakdown:

Maine got their first pair of runs on the new season in the top of third inning as Drew Reynolds hit a line drive into right field, scoring Damon Gaither (2B) and Evan Baschnagel (BB) on the single.

Payton Whitehead plated the third run for Maine on the night as he had an infield single in the top of seventh to score Brody Rasmussen (BB).

Black Bear Pitchers:

Owen Wheeler took over for Colin Fitzgerald after a nearly 40-minute rain delay in the bottom of the fourth. In his return to the mound for the first time in 623, Fitzgerald allowed 7 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks in 3 and 2/3 innings of work.

Tommy Martorano began the eighth inning on the mound for Maine. Wheeler turned in a solo outing in relief as he allowed just 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts in 3 and 1/3 innings of work.

Martorano pitched 1 inning, allowing 5 runs (one earned) on 3 hits, 2 walks and striking out 1.

LA Tech Recap:

Scored one run in the first, two in third (two-run home run), two in the fourth, two in the seventh (one unearned) and five in the eighth (four unearned).
Hubka (1-0) picked up the win in a scheduled shortened start as he allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks in 3 and 2/3 innings of work.

Final Score: Maine – 3 | LA Tech - 14

Notables:

• Quinn Murphy and Evan Baschnagel both recorded their first collegiate hits in the top of the fourth inning, both singles.
• Damon Gaither collected the first extra-base hit of the season for Maine with his double in the third frame.
• Colin Fitzgerald made his first appearance since the Coral Gable Regional in 2023 (623 days) on the mound.
• Tommy Martorano made his collegiate debut on the mound, picking up his first strikeout.

Next Time Out:

Maine is scheduled to play a double-header on Saturday, Feb. 15 against LA Tech. Game one is scheduled for 9-innings at 11 AM EST – 10 AM CT with game two to follow roughly 45 minutes after game one. Game two will be a seven-inning contest.

-UMaine-