The University of Maine baseball team used a seven run second inning Sunday afternoon, to win game three of their conference series opener with an 8-5 win over UMass-Lowell at Mahaney Diamond in Orono.
Maine (7-15, 1-2 AE), playing as the visitor Sunday where the weekend series had been moved to Orono due to weather conditions in Lowell, broke a nine game losing streak and avoided a three game sweep by the Riverhawks.
In the top of the second with Maine trailing 1-0, the Bears broke out with some help from UML. With the bases loaded, Colin Ridley scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-1. Jeremy Pena then was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded again to give Maine a 2-1 advantage. Chris Bec walked to make it 3-1. Tyler Schwanz then hit a two run single, followed by a Caleb Kerbs two run single, to make it 7-1. All seven runs were unearned.
Oscar Marchena had a home run and two RBI to lead the Riverhawks (12-11, 3-2). Nick Kuzia (1-3) took the loss on the mound allowing seven runs, none earned, two hits, and three strikeouts over 1.2 innings.
Cody Laweryson (1-1) earned the win in relief for Maine going 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit, no runs, and had four strikeouts. Connor Johnson earned his first save by going the final 1.2 innings, allowing no runs or hits, one walk, and one strikeout.
Maine will host Hartford for another America East series next Saturday and Sunday. A doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. Saturday, with a single game Sunday at 1.
