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Baseball team enjoys good weekend on road

Black Bears pick up three wins, while two games are cancelled due to bad weather

By Ryan Waning

Posted on Monday, March 31st, 2003, 12:00 am

Melissa Armes

A University of Maine baseball player practices on the turf of the football field last week. Mahaney Diamond is still not ready for play after a harsh winter that isn't over yet. The Black Bears' home opener is scheduled for Friday, April 18.

The University of Maine baseball team rebounded from last weekend’s trip to Clemson nicely, taking Friday night’s contest with the University of Rhode Island 6-2 and sweeping Saturday’s doubleheader against New York Tech University 11-8 and 11-7.

With the victories, UMaine’s record now stands at 12-6.

The Black Bears needed a late inning rally to top the Rams. Trailing 2-1 going into the ninth, UMaine scored five runs off of Rhode Island reliever Tom Venedam to take the contest.

Once again senior Alain Picard swung a hot bat for UMaine, ripping the go-ahead two-run double with two outs. Aaron Izaryk followed a batter later, adding two more runs to the Black Bears’ total with a single to right field.

Senior hurler Adam Lebelle picked up the win for the Black Bears, his second of the season, after relieving freshman starter Greg Norton, who had another strong performance (8.0 innings pitched, 2 runs allowed, 6 strikeouts).

Picard, Izaryk and Brett Ouellette each had a pair of hits for UMaine.

The Black Bears did not let the rain stop the hit parade during their Saturday doubleheader against N.Y. Tech, posting double digits in both contests.

UMaine led throughout the first game. After taking a 5-1 lead into the fifth, the Black Bears tore off six runs to solidify things behind Mike MacDonald’s 6 2/3- inning, 11-strikeout performance.

The Black Bears had to come from behind in the nightcap. An inning after a two-run bomb from Joe Drapeau cut the N.Y. Tech lead to 3-2. Alain Picard hit a two-out, three-run home run to give UMaine its first lead of the game, 5-4, in the fifth.

Then, in the sixth, the Black Bears put five more runs on the board, supporting Mike Collar’s complete game, 4-hit, 7-strikeout performance. Like they did in the first game, N.Y. Tech rallied late.

Trailing 11-3, Tech plated three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but saw their rally end when UMaine turned a double play to secure the victory.

The Black Bears and N.Y. Tech were scheduled to play another doubleheader Sunday, but they were cancelled due to inclement weather. The games will not be made up.

UMaine returns to Orono for a week of practice, presumably indoors since the northeast weather has done little to accommodate outdoor sports.

The Black Bears hit the road next weekend for a pair of doubleheaders at Pace University Friday and Saturday.