The University of Maine baseball team began their 2019 season on Friday with their annual Southern road trip, which includes a very difficult start to the non-conference schedule.
It was no different this year, as Maine visited Tallahassee, Florida and the #11 Florida State Seminoles out of the ACC for a four game series. On Friday at Dick Houser Stadium, the Seminoles broke out the bats scoring seven runs over the first four innings to break it open, and on the mound FSU stiffled the Black Bear bats using three pitchers to combine on a no-hitter in an 11-0 win. Maine only had three base runners and none until the fifth when Cody Pasic walked. Kevin Doody walked twice. Cody Laweryson (0-1) allowed four runs on five hits in 3.0 innings to take the loss.
On Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader Maine got some runs and hits on the board for the first time in the early season, but the home standing Seminoles did alot more of that in crushing the Bears 16-3.
Caleb Kerbs had a two run double for Maine, while junior shortstop Jeffrey Omohundro had an RBI single. Matt Pushard (0-1) took the loss on the hill allowing three runs on two hits in 3.0 innings of work.
In the second game Saturday Maine had the best chance for a weekend win, as the bats came around in the fourth inning after falling behind 2-0 and put up a five spot for a 5-2 lead.
Hernan Sardinas had an RBI groundout, and then Jake Roper in his first collegiate at bat hit a grand slam. An RBI single in the fourth and a sacrifice fly for another RBI in the sixth though for the Seminoles cut the lead to 5-4. The Bears closer Matt Geoffrion (0-1) couldn’t hold the lead, as Robby Martin hit an RBI double to tie it for FSU in their last at bat, and then Matheu Nelson won it 6-5 with a walkoff RBI sacrifice fly.
In the final game on Sunday afternoon Maine fell behind early 2-0 in the first inning, before Pasic put the Bears right back in it with an RBI single in the sixth to make it 2-1.
The seventh inning was the backbreaker though for the Bears. A bases loaded walk, a two run single, another RBI single, and a three run double made it 9-1 FSU as they would complete the weekend sweep with seven runs in the frame.
Nick Silva (0-1) took the loss on the hill for Maine, allowing the two runs on one hit in just 1.0 inning of work. Silva left before throwing any pitches in the bottom of the second and seemed to be having some stiffness on his left side.
Maine (0-4) looks to pick up their first win when they visit Maryland to face the Terrapins out of the Big 10 Conference on Friday at 4 pm to open up a three game series.
