The New Jersey Institute of Technology got out to a 4-0 lead on Friday evening, and then held off the University of Maine for a 4-3 victory in America East baseball action at Mahaney Diamond in Orono.
NJIT (13-11, 8-2 America East) had a chance to break on top in the first inning when David Marcano led off with a double and Julio Marcano was hit by a pitch. Maine starter Trevor Labonte got out of the jam though when he got a flyout, a fielders choice for the second out, and a strikeout. The Highlanders broke through in a scoreless game in the third. David Marcano had an infield single to lead off, and with one out Albert Choi doubled. A throwing error by the Black Bears third baseman Dylan McNary on a ball hit by Paul Franzoni allowed Marcano to score, and then with two outs Isiah Daubon nailed a two-run triple to left center for a 3-0 advantage. After the guests got another run on an error in the fourth, the hosts got on the board on a Ryan Turenne sacrifice fly to make it 4-1 in the bottom half. Maine then sliced it to a run in the fifth inning. With one out Jordan Schulefand walked, Jeff Mejia had an infield single, and Jeremiah Jenkins singled in Schulefand. After a walk to load the bases, Joe Bramanti just missed hitting a grand slam to center but would have to settle for the sacrifice fly allowing Mejia to come across the plate to make it 4-3. The Highlanders had a chance to add to their lead in the eighth by loading the bases with two outs, but Colin Fitzgerald struck out Julio Marcano to end that threat. The Black Bears got two men on base after two were out in their last at bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Jenkins grounded out to end it.
Labonte (2-3) has his best outing of the season but took the loss on the hill for Maine allowing four runs (only one earned) on eight hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Mejia had two hits, and Schulefand walked three times and scored a run. The Black Bears fall to 10-14, 7-3 in America East. Ryan Fischer (5-2) picked up the win for NJIT allowing three runs on four hits in 5.0 innings. Evan Gegeckas went the final 4.0 innings and got his first save. Luke Longo had three hits, while David Marcano, Julio Marcano, Choi, and Daubon had two hits a piece. The second game of the series is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday.
