Vicki Tolton (Smithers, British Columbia) finished 13th in the 400 meter dash at the ECAC/IC4A Championships in Princeton, N.J. over the weekend. Tolton, a junior, turned in a time of 55.31 seconds.

The University of Maine men's and women's track teams had several solid performances at the ECAC/IC4A Championships in Princeton, N.J. over the weekend.

On the women's side, Vicki Tolton (Smithers, British Columbia) finished 13th in the 400 meter dash, Lindsay Burlock (Caribou, Maine) came in 29th in the 400 meter dash, Allyson Howatt (Fredericton, New Brunswick) came in 23rd in the preliminaries of the 100 meter dash, Rebecca Even (Stoneham, Maine) came in 28th in the hammer throw and the women's 4x400 meter relay team placed 22nd.

On the men's side, Dan Poirier (Lewiston, Maine) came in ninth in the javelin throw, Miles Bartlett (Casco, Maine) came in 12th in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Skip Edwards (Portland, Maine) came in 24th in the 400 meter dash and Matthew Holman (Gardiner, Maine) came in 25th in the 400 meter hurdles preliminaries.

The teams return to action on Friday, May 30, at the NCAA Eastern Regionals in Tallahassee, Fla. -U-M-

Curt Smith (Willemstad, Curacao) had an outstanding performance over the weekend at Binghamton. Smith picked up seven hits, including three doubles, against the Bearcats. Smith also became the second player in school history to collect 300 career hits.

Smith Records 300th Career Hit

The University of Maine baseball team split a doubleheader with Binghamton on Saturday afternoon in Vestal, N.Y. Binghamton won the first game 6-5 in 10 innings, before Maine rebounded to win the second game 7-6 behind a grand slam by Mark Ostrander (Hopkinton, Mass.). Maine moves to 20-28-1 on the season and 8-15 in America East play. Binghamton moves to 27-25 on the season and 15-8 in conference play.

In the first game, Binghamton struck first with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Joe Charron was hit, advanced to second on an error, third when Tom Baileys was hit and scored when Brian Ivan drew a bases loaded walk.

Maine took the lead in the top of the top of the fifth inning. Kevin McAvoy (Brewer, Maine) doubled down the left field line. He was out at third on a fielder's choice by Jarrett Lukas (Old Town, Maine). Mark Ostrander (Hopkinton, Mass.) then doubled to deep center field and Lukas went to third base. Lukas scored when Joe Mercurio (Brewster, N.Y.) reached on an error. Ostrander scored the second run of the game for the Black Bears when Danny Menendez (Miami, Fla.) hit a sacrifice fly.

Binghamton tied the game in the bottom of the frame. Peter Bregartner singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored when Kyle Klee doubled to left field.

Maine took the lead back in the top of the seventh innings when Mercurio homered to left center field, giving the Black Bears a 3-2 lead. For Mercurio, it was his second home run of the season.

The Bearcats tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Corey Taylor led off the inning with a bunt single. Peter Bregartner followed with a sacrifice before Ryan James singled to center field. Joe Charron then singled scoring Taylor with the tying run. Binghamton loaded the bases in the inning, but the Black Bears got out of the jam to send the game to extra innings.

Maine took the lead back in the top of the eighth inning. Tony Patane (New Milford, Con.) singled up the middle and Smith drew a walk. Kevin McAvoy (Brewer, Maine) followed with a two-run triple to right center field scoring both Patane and Smith, giving Maine a 5-3 lead.

The lead, however, would not last long. The Bearcats tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Jeff Skelhorne-Gross and Bregartner, each of who drew walks, both scored.

Binghamton won the game in the bottom of the 10th inning when Bregartner singled and scored when Baileys singled.

Kevin Scanlan (Sudbury, Mass.) went 6.1 innings and allowed three runs, two of which were earned on five hits. Kyle Benoit (Brampton, Ontario) went 1.0 innings and allowed two runs. Jimmy Cox (Bangor, Maine) pitched the final 2.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits. He picks up the loss and falls to 1-1 on the season.

James Giulietti picks up the win for the Bearcats.

In the second game, Maine took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Smith walked and scored when McAvoy reached on an error. For Smith, it was his 50th career stolen base in the game. The hit was the 299th of his career.

Binghamton tied the game in the bottom of the second inning when Joe Charron homered to center field. The Bearcats added a pair runs in the bottom of the third inning when Kyle Klee had a two-run bloop single.

Ken Jacobi homered to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for the Bearcats.

Curt Smith led off the top of the fifth inning getting his 300th career hit. Joe Mercurio followed and was hit by a pitch. McAvoy drew a walk to load the bases before Mark Ostrander (Hopkinton, Mass.) belted a grand slam over the left field fence. For Ostrander, it was his fifth home run of the season.

The Bearcats took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth inning with a pair of runs. Corey Taylor had an RBI single scoring Jacobi and then he scored on a wild pitch.

The Black Bears took a 7-6 lead in the top of the sixth inning. Danny Menendez (Miami, Fla.) led off the inning with a single. Smith then drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Joe Mercurio and Myckie Lugbauer (Mahopac, N.Y.) then each sacrifice flies.

Matt Jebb (Toronto, Ontario) went 4.2 innings for Maine. He allowed six runs on seven hits. He was replaced by Justin Latta (Lubbock, Texas). Latta went 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on hits. Latta improves to 2-1 on the season.