|
McGraw, Barrett Lead Maine Past Long Island University
March 13, 2006
LANTANA, Fla.-- Matt McGraw (Burlington, Ontario) went 4-for-5 with a double and two triples, scored four runs and drove in five to lead the University of Maine baseball team past Long Island University 16-5 on Monday night in Lantana, Fla. Joel Barrett (Brewer, Maine) added three hits and six RBI as the Black Bears improve to 5-6 on the season. Long Island University falls to 1-4 on the season. LIU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sean Durkin led off the game with a walk for the Blackbirds and Frank DiMasi followed with a home run. Maine answered in the bottom of the inning. Matt McGraw doubled to left center field and scored when Ryan Quintal (Manchester, N.H.) had an infield single. The Blackbirds got the run back in the top of the second inning. Bryan Burke led off the inning with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Anthony Amatucci singled to right center field. Maine grabbed the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Billy Cather (Worcester, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. McGraw followed with a triple to center field scoring Cather from second. Joel Barrett (Brewer, Maine) singled through the left side scoring McGraw to tie the game at 3-3. Quintal reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a balk and scored when Curt Smith (Willemstad, Curacao) tripled. Smith scored the fifth run of the game for the Black Bears when Bobby Brown (Chelmsford, Mass.) singled to right field. LIU tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the fourth inning. Danny Etkin and Burke drew back-to-back walks. James Adamo plated Etkin with a single to center field and Burke scored on an infield single by Dan Pirillo.
Maine answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Danny Menendez (Miami, Fla.) reached on a throwing error by the pitcher and Cather followed with a bunt single. McGraw then hit his second triple of the game scoring both runners. With his second triple of the game, McGraw grabbed a share of the Maine record for triples in a game previously held by four players, including teammates Joe Hough and Curt Smith. Barrett followed with a sacrifice fly to right field scoring McGraw. Quintal then doubled to right field, but was stranded at third base. The Black Bears continued to add to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kevin McAvoy, the reigning America East Rookie of the Week, led off the inning with a double. Sean Parker (Worcester, Mass.) struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch and McAvoy advanced to second base. Menendez followed and was hit by a pitch to load the bases. McGraw hit a two-run single driving in his fourth and fifth runs of the night. Barrett then hit a two-run double scoring Menendez and McGraw. Smith then doubled to right field driving in Barrett with Maine's 13th run of the game. McAvoy led off the sixth inning with a home run to left field. Parker followed with a double to left field and Billy Cather walked. Barrett drove home Parker and Cather with a single to right field giving him six RBI in the game and the Black Bears a 16-5 lead after six innings. Pat Moran (Winterport, Maine) started the game for Maine and went three plus innings for the Black Bears. He allowed five runs on four hits. Moran walked five batters in the game, while striking out three LIU batters. Troy Martin (Dover, N.H.) relieved Moran in the fourth inning. Martin pitched four innings for Maine and scattered four hits. He did not allow a run while striking out four batters. Martin earns the win for the Black Bears and improves to 2-2 on the season. Mitch Clegg (Woburn, Mass.) pitched the final two innings for the Black Bears. He allowed four hits and struck out a pair. The Black Bears return to action on Tuesday, March 14 when they travel to Miami, Fla. to face Florida International University at 7:00 p.m. -U-M- |
