For the first time in 20 years, the America East baseball tournament returned to Mahaney Diamond in Orono on Wednesday. The four day, double elimination tournament featuring the leagues top six teams began with the host team #5 Maine going up against #4 Stony Brook.
In that opener, the Seawolves took advantage of a dropped fly ball to right field by the Bears Colin Ridley, and a sacrifice fly RBI by Brandon Alamo in the bottom of the second to take a 2-0 lead. Maine got a run back in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly RBI from center fielder Brandon Vicens. Later in the inning with two outs and runners on first and third, Jonathan Bennett would get in a run down between first and second. On the same play, Stony Brook cut down Christopher Bec at the plate trying to score the tying run.
Maine had other opportunities, including the seventh when Bennett led off with a double. With runners on first and second and one out, Stony Brook induced a double play groundout from Ridley to end the threat. Cody Pasic then led off the eighth with a double, and was sacrifice bunted to third by Danny Casals. Hernen Sardinas then grounded out to first, and Bec struck out looking to end another threat. Maine went in order in the ninth, as Casals flied out deep to left, Bennett grounded out, and Vicens struck out swinging to end it as the Bears came up short 2-1. Maine (18-33) would be forced into an elimination game later Wednesday evening.
Greg Marino (7-1) got the win for the Seawolves, going 7.0 innings allowing one run, six hits, wih five strikeouts. Aaron Pinto picked up a two inning save, his 12th of the year, and also now the all time saves leader in Stony Brook school history. SB (30-23) advances to an 11 a.m. winners bracket against top seed Hartford Thursday. John Arel (5-4) took the loss for the Bears, allowing two unearned runs, four hits, with two strikeouts in 3.0 innings. Cody Laweryson pitched well in relief, allowing no runs, three hits, with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
In the elimination game, Maine jumped on UMBC early to build a 7-0 second inning lead and cruised to a 9-4 win to keep their season alive.
Bec hit an RBI double in the first, followed by a three run homer by Casals to make it 4-0. The same tandem was at it again in the second inning, as Bec hit a two run triple and Casals hit an RBI single making it 7-0. Maine scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, on an RBI triple by Sardinas and a Ridley RBI double. The Retrievers got single runs in the second and third innings and two more in the sixth. Zach Bright, Joey Goodwin, and Dalton Stewart all had two hits a piece, with Bright adding two RBI. Bec had three hits, while Pena, Sardinas, and Casals all had two a piece for the Bears.
Zach Winn started for Maine and got a no decision, allowing two runs and six hits over 4.0 innings. Trevor Delaite (2-2) got the 2.0 inning win, allowing two runs, three hits, with three K’s. Zach Geoffrion picked up his second save going 3.0 innings, allowing no runs, one hit, with five K’s. Matt Chanin (2-3) took the loss for UMBC, allowing six runs, 10 hits, with four K’s in 4.0 innings. The Retrievers finish their season at 22-29.
Maine is now 19-33, and will play in another elimination game Thursday evening at 6 pm against an opponent to be determined.
