The Maine baseball team closed out their regular season schedule on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over Albany at Mahaney Diamond on Senior Day. Maine finished up a very successful home schedule with a final 14-5 record at Mahaney.
The Bears honored three seniors. Outfielders Lou Della Fera and Tyler Shwanz, and relief pitcher Jeff Gelinas.
Maine got all they needed for runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Brandon Vicens bunt was mishandled by Albany starting pitcher Ray Weber, allowing Vicens to get to first and also allowing Schwanz to score from third to make it 1-0. Later in the inning, Hernen Sardinas knocked in Jonathan Bennett with an RBI groundout to double the lead to 2-0.
Albany (24-24, 10-13 America East), got their lone run in the top of the fifth when Nick Kondo walked with the bases loaded. The relief pitching of Eddie Emerson and former Brewer High standout Matt Pushard closed the door the rest of the way though, as Maine salvaged one win out of the three game series.
Starting pitcher Zach Winn threw the ball well but got a no decision for Maine, as Emerson picked up the win to go to 2-0 on the year. Emerson went 2.1 innings, allowing no runs, one hits, with two walks, and four strikeouts. Pushard picked up his first save, going the final two innings, allowing no runs, one hit, and also had four strikeouts. Pushard finished the regular season with a 1.08 ERA, and had 13 strikeouts in 16.2 innings pitched. Weber (1-2) was the losing pitcher for Albany, going the first four innings as the Great Danes used up five relievers the rest of the way.
Travis Collins led the Great Danes with two hits, while Della Fera and Christopher Bec had a pair of hits for the Black Bears. Maine outhit Albany 9-4.
Maine finishes the regular season with an overall record of 21-27, 8-12 in league play. The Bears will enter the America East Tournament in Lowell, Massachusetts as the #5 seed. Maine will face these same Albany Great Danes, the #4 seed, Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the first game of the double elimination conference tournament.
