The University of Maine’s baseball team will play its first game at Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field in Portland since 2012 when it takes on Northeastern University on Wednesday, April 29.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. but it is subject to change.
The home of the Boston Red Sox’s AA affiliate, the Eastern League’s Portland Sea Dogs, has been a good venue for the Black Bears.
They beat Boston College 9-4 in 2012 and UMass 21-8 in 1998.
Hadlock Field opened in 1994.
The America East Black Bears and Coastal Athletic Association Huskies have met 31 times since 2000 with Northeastern holding a 19-12 advantage.
It will be the third time they will meet this upcoming season as UMaine will head to Boston to play Northeastern on April 11-12.
They haven’t played since 2014.
Both teams have made NCAA Tournament appearances over the past three seasons with NU earning berths last year and 2023 and UMaine going in 2023.
UMaine is coming off a 20-31 campaign while Northeastern set a school record for wins (49-11) and conference wins (25-2) last season.
Northeastern is coached by Mike Glavine, brother of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine.
“This is a big deal for us, the program, the state and everyone involved in Maine baseball,” UMaine head coach Nick Derba said in a press release. “I hope we can do this annually. We haven’t done this in my entire time at Maine and it’s something that we feel is important.”
Derba is entering his ninth season as head coach in Orono.
“We represent this state as its only Division I program and for us to play at a different venue within our state and get in front of a new crowd is great,” Derba said. “I hope to see a huge turnout.”
UMaine has two players from the Portland area in Falmouth sophomore Brennan Rumpf and Scarborough freshman Erik Swenson. Both are right-handed pitchers.
Swenson was the Maine Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year last year.
Sea Dogs General Manager Jesse Scaglion said they are “thrilled” to have UMaine playing at Delta Dental Park.
“UMaine baseball has a rich history and tradition of excellence and we’re proud to host a program that has produced so many outstanding student-athletes – including several who have gone on to wear a Sea Dogs uniform,” Scaglion said. “Bringing college baseball to a professional ballpark is a great way to celebrate the game at every level.”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday, Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. and are available through the Portland Sea Dogs ticket office by calling 207-879-9500 or online at seadogs.com.
