The University of Maine’s baseball team moved into sole possession of second place in America East by taking the second and third games of their series against visiting the University of Maryland, Baltimore County at Mahaney Diamond over the weekend.
After UMBC won Friday’s opener 3-2, UMaine triumphed 8-5 on Saturday and 11-1 in eight innings on Sunday.
UMaine has now won four straight conference series and improved to 9-6 in America East and 14-15 overall. UMBC fell to 8-7 and 20-18 overall.
On Sunday, graduate student right fielder Juju Stevens’ two-run double, junior designated hitter Albert De La Rosa’s run-scoring single and senior shortstop Chris Bear’s sacrifice fly highlighted a five-run first inning. Senior righty Vaun Larisa tossed a career-high seven innings as the Black Bears cruised to the win.
Larisa, now 2-3, allowed four hits and one earned run while striking out five and not walking anyone.
Stevens and Bear each had a double and single and three runs-batted in, and De La Rosa had two singles and two RBIs. Anthony Masculli homered for UMBC’s only run.
On Saturday, senior center fielder Brody Rasmussen went 4-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, and Stevens tied Troy Carpenter for the team lead with his 11th homer of the season to pace the Black Bears.
Sophomore DH Quinn Murphy, Stevens and Bear each had two hits for the Black Bears, and senior righty Gianni Gambardella threw six innings of seven-hit, three-run (two earned) ball with two strikeouts and a walk to earn his fifth win in nine decisions.
Brennan Rumpf allowed two hits and two runs in 2 ⅓ innings of relief before Sebastian Holt got the final two outs for his fifth save.
Derek Paris and Brooks Henderson had a pair of hits each for UMBC, and Ehi Okojie belted a two-run homer.
In the opener, Kailen Hackmann threw 3 ⅓ innings of three-hit, one-run relief to improve his record to 5-0, and Brady Fox came on in the ninth and notched his second save with a one-hit, shutout inning.
Run-scoring singles in the first by Danny Wyatt and Okojie gave UMBC a lead it would never relinquish, and Paris drove in what proved to be the game-winner with a third-inning fielder’s choice.
Wyatt had a double to go with his single. Junior catcher Shane Andrus knocked in both UMaine runs with a solo homer and sacrifice fly. Junior second baseman Nic Pepe had two singles.
UMaine will host Bowdon College for a non-conference game at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
