The Black Bears were looking to get back in the win column, as they headed to New York to take on Stony Brook on Saturday. It would not happen, as Maine dropped the first game of the doubleheader 6-3.
A pitchers’ duel between Maine’s third-year right hander Jonah Normandeau and Stony Brook’s second-year right hander Brett Clarke went three innings, as both pitchers traded zeros. The Seawolves would draw first blood in the fourth inning, when fourth-year first baseman Casey Baker began the inning by launching a solo home run to center, his fourth on the year, making the score 1-0.
Stony Brook would add another run in the fifth with another solo home run, this one off the bat of first-year designated hitter Michael Wilson, to lead off the inning. The homer, Wilson’s fourth of the season, made it 2-0 Seawolves.
Maine would jump on the board in the sixth. Fourth-year right fielder Tyler Schwanz launched a solo homer of his own, his fourth, to cut the Black Bear deficit in half, 2-1.
The wheels would fall off in the sixth, as Stony Brook struck back in a big way. Third-year third baseman Bobby Honeyman led off the inning with a double, moving up to third on a ground out. Second-year right fielder Dylan Resk drew a walk with ball four getting to the backstop, allowing Honeyman to come home, making the score 3-1 Seawolves. Another walk was drawn by third-year left fielder Andruw Gazzola and that was it for Normandeau.
First-year Cody Lawyerson came in to relieve. After getting a flyout for the second out, Lawyerson walked the next two batters, bringing in Resk to make the score 4-1. Second-year catcher Sean Buckhout followed up with a double to left, plating two and extending the score to 6-1.
Maine tried to stage a rally in the seventh. First-year first baseman Hernen Sardinas led off with a double. Second-year second baseman Caleb Kerbs flew out to center, plating Sardinas and making the score 6-2. First-year third baseman Cody Pasic launched the fourth homer of the game between the two teams, a solo shot that made the score 6-3.
After a pitching change, second-year shortstop Jeremy Pena singled. Second-year left fielder Colin Ridley drew a walk to keep the threat alive. Third-year Christopher Bec grounded into a double play, killing the rally.
Normandeau was hung with the loss, going 5.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts, falling to 1-5 this season. Clarke improved to 3-3 for the Sea Wolves after giving up three runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out five.
Black Bears swept in doubleheader
The Black Bears tried to salvage the twin bill in game two against Stony Brook from Stony Brook, New York. It would not happen, as they dropped game two 4-3.
Maine struck first this time around in the top of the first. Pena led off with a triple. Bec laced a one-out double to plate Pena and give the Black Bears a 1-0 lead.
Maine would add a run in the top of the second. Third-year center fielder Brandon Vicens led off the inning by showing some opposite field power, bombing his first homer of the season to right and extending the Black Bear lead to 2-0.
Stony Brook answered back in the bottom of the third. Fourth-year centerfielder Toby Handley launched his fourth home run of the season off of Maine’s starter, second-year right hander Nick Silva. The homer cut the Black Bear lead in half, 2-1.
Maine would answer back in the top of the fourth. Third-year catcher Jonathan Bennett led off with a single. After a pop out, first-year first baseman Hernen Sardinas laced a double to right center, scoring Bennett from first and making the score 3-1 Black Bears.
Stony Brook answered in the sixth. Fourth-year first baseman Casey Baker led off with a double. Second year right fielder Dylan Resk then launched his 11th homer of the season, a two-run shot that knotted the game at 3-3.
The game ended up going extras and Stony Brook only needed one to put the game on ice. Gazzola led off with a single off of fourth-year right hander Jeff Gelinas. First-year shortstop Nick Grande drew a walk. With two outs, Gelinas had more costly control issues. Fourth-year catcher David Real was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Handley walked on four pitches, bringing in Gazzola to win the game for the Seawolves.
Silva went five innings, giving up three runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. First-year right hander Brian Hermann went six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with two walks and eight strikeouts for the Seawolves in a no decision.
The Black Bears will look to avoid getting swept on Sunday from Joe Nathan Field.
