PORT CHARLOTTE, FL- The Maine baseball team dropped a pair of one run games in Florida Friday. Maine was defeated by St. Bonaventure 4-3 before being defeated in the second game by North Dakota State by the same 4-3 score.
In the first game, St. Bonaventure (6-2) jumped on the Black Bears for a 3-0 lead after three innings. Maine freshman Victor Danza doubled and also hit a solo home run for two RBI to help the Bears get back within 3-2 and 4-3 but they would fall short. John Arel (0-1) took the loss on the hill going six innings allowing eight hits, four runs, all earned, while striking out five.
In Game two, Maine would fall behind 2-0 after four innings before putting up another rally. Jake Osborne got an RBI single to cut the lead in half at 2-1 in the top of the fifth before Colin Ridley smashed a two run pinch hit homerun in the top of the seventh to give Maine a 3-2 lead. North Dakota State (7-1) would get two runs in the bottom of the eighth off Maine reliever Charlie Butler (0-2) to pick up the one run victory. Butler did not record an out in allowing two earned runs on two hits to take the loss. Maine starter Jonah Normandeau went five innings, allowing three hits, two runs, none earned, and struck out seven.
Maine is now 3-6 on the season and will return to action Monday morning at 10 a.m. in Port Charlotte for another matchup with St. Bonaventure.
