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Maine Baseball Splits With Hartford
April 24, 2005
BRISTOL, Conn.-- The University of Maine baseball team split a pair of America East games with Hartford on Sunday, winning the first one 8-5, but dropping the nightcap 3-2. The Black Bears are 21-11 on the season and 5-3 in America East play, while Hartford is 5-15 and 2-6 in conference play. In the first game, Hartford jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Ryan Cuscovitch homered to right field. Maine tied the game in the top of the second inning. Curt Smith (Curacao, Netherlands) singled to left field and Aaron Izaryk (Markham, Ontario) followed with an RBI double to tie the game. The game did not remain tied long as Hartford added a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take the 3-1 lead. The game remained 3-1 until the top of the seventh inning. Matt McGraw (Burlington, Ontario) singled to center field and advanced to second on an error. Frank Pesanello (Plainville, Mass.) followed and walked. Joe Hough (West Roxbury, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Greg Creek (Manchester, Maine) hit a fielder's choice and the third baseman threw home, but the catcher was unable to handle the ball. Ryan Quintal (Manchester, N.H.) ripped a double to center field on the first pitch that saw scoring Steve Gambale (Medford, Mass.), who pinch ran, and Hough to give Maine the 4-3 lead.
The Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Kyle O'Neill walked and scored when Adam Bowser doubled to deep right center field. The Hawks scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Bill Perry reached on a fielder's choice and scored on an error. Maine answered in the top of the ninth inning. Gambale led off the inning with a walk and Hough belted a two-run home run to right center field. For Hough, it was his third home run of the season. Creek followed with a walk and scored when Joel Barrett (Brewer, Maine) doubled to center field. Barrett advanced to third when Mark Ostrander (Hopkinton, Mass.) grounded out and scored when Smith reached on an error. Steve Richard (Billerica, Mass.) went seven innings and allowed four runs, two of which were earned, on six hits. He struck out seven Hartford batters. Troy Martin (Dover, N.H.) pitched the final two innings for the Black Bears to earn the victory. He improves to 4-3 on the campaign. Martin allowed one unearned run on one hit while striking out one. In the second game, Hartford jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bowser led off the inning with a walk and Ryan Crowley homered to center field. Maine tied the game in the top of the seventh inning. Frank Pesanello walked and Moises Rivera (New Paltz, N.Y.) pinch ran for him. Hough followed with a single to left field. Creek followed with a single to right field to load the bases. Quintal hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Rivera. Hough tied the game when he scored on a wild pitch. Maine had the go-ahead run at third base but was unable to push it across. The Hawks were able to score a run in the bottom of the inning to earn the victory. Greg Norton (South Portland, Maine) pitched 6.1 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out eight. Scott Robinson (Ajax, Ontario) relieved Norton in the seventh inning. The Black Bears finish their three-game set with the Hawks on Monday, April 25 with a single game starting at noon at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Conn. |
