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McAvoy, Barrett, Clegg Lead Maine Past Penn 17-2
March 8, 2007
PALM BEACH, Fla.-- Kevin McAvoy (Brewer, Maine) hit a grand slam, while Mitch Clegg (Woburn, Mass.) pitched 5.1 scoreless innings to lead the University of Maine baseball team past Penn 17-2 on Thursday afternoon in Palm Beach, Fla. The Black Bears improve to 4-2 on the season, while Penn evens its record to 3-3 on the season. Joel Barrett (Brewer, Maine) also drove in four runs in the game for the Black Bears. Maine jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Sean Parker (Worcester, Mass.) led off the inning with a double. Kevin Jackson (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) reached on a fielder's choice and Parker went to third base. Danny Menendez (Miami, Fla.) followed with a single down the left field line and Parker scored. Billy Cather (Worcester, Mass.) then reached on a fielder's choice. Cather then stole second base and the Penn cather threw the ball into center field allowing Jackson to score. Penn threatened with runners on second and third in the top of the fifth inning, but Maine was able to get out of the inning without allowing Penn to score a run. The Black Bears added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Curt Smith (Willemstad, Curacao) singled to left field. Joel Barrett doubled to right center field scoring Smith from first base. Kevin McAvoy reached on an error. Barrett scored on a wild pitch giving Maine a 4-0 lead. Jackson then singled to the left side scoring McAvoy.
Cather led off the bottom of the sixth inning and reached on a bunt. He then stole second and scored when Smith singled to center field. Penn got on the board in the top of the seventh inning. Alex Nwaka led off the inning with a single through the right side and scored when Kyle Armeny singled to right field. The Quackers then loaded the bases with just one out. Joey Boaen scored the second run of the game for Penn when William Gordon reached on a fielder's choice. Maine answered back in the bottom of the seventh inning. Bobby Brown (Chelmsford, Mass.) doubled and scored when Jackson singled through the left side, plating Brown. For Jackson, it was his second RBI of the game. Tavis Hasenfus (Winthrop, Maine) pinch ran for Jackson. Menendez reached on an error by the shortstop. Cather then ripped a double scoring Hasenfus. McGraw followed and drew a walk to load the bases. Barrett singled to third base scoring Menendez and the bases remained loaded. McAvoy then hit a grand slam giving Maine a 13-2 lead. Bobby Brown led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run. Tavis Hasenfus then recorded his first collegiate hit with a single to left field. McGraw singled to left field and Smith doubled to left center field scoring Hasenfus. It was the third hit of the day for Smith. Barrett then singled and both McGraw and Smith scored giving Maine a 17-2 lead. Mitch Clegg was strong for Maine on the mound. He scattered six hits over 5.1 innings while striking out seven batters. Clegg improves to 1-0 on the season. Joel Thorney (Toronto, Ontario) went 2.2 innings for the Black Bears in relief and allowed two runs on three hits. He fanned three batters. Chris Wojick (Uncasville, Conn.) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Black Bears. Maine returns to action on Friday, March 9 when it faces St. Bonaventure at 1:30 pm. The game can be heard over the internet at www.zoneradio.com. -U-M- |
