Jake Marquez had a game winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday afternoon, as the Maine Black Bears got past the Hartford Hawks 9-8 at Mahaney Diamond in Orono to sweep yet another America East baseball series. Maine has now won 13 in a row, and sweeps their fifth conference series out of the seven they’ve played this season.
Three straight doubles to start the bottom of the third inning broke a scoreless tie. Ryan Turenne led off with a two bagger, followed by Quinn McDaniel and Joe Bramanti to make it 2-0 Maine. Leading 4-1 the Bears got three more in the sixth inning on a Bramanti fielders choice, an RBI groundout by Jeremiah Jenkins, and a run on a wild pitch for a 7-1 advantage. They still led 8-3 headed to the eighth when Hartford came storming back to tie it off reliever Noah Lewis. The first two hitters reached with singles and then Tremayne Cobb Jr. doubled in a run, Ben Maycock slapped a two-run double to centerfield, and Daniel Burnett made it 8-8 with a two-run homerun to left. The hosts were able to come up with the game winner though in the bottom half of the inning. With one out Scout Knotts had an infield single, Jenkins singled to center, and Marquez scored Knotts with a single to left field. Jordan Schulefand picked up the pitching win and struckout Maycock to end it after allowing a pair of two out singles in the ninth. The Hawks fall to 6-31, 5-16 in conference play.
Jenkins had three hits and two RBI to lead the way in the win, including his seventh homer of the season. Schulefand, Turenne, and Knotts had two hits a piece. Brett Erwin started on the mound getting a no decision allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Schulefand (5-1) didn’t allow a run on three hits with three strikeouts in his 1.2 innings. Burnett led Hartford at the plate with three hits and five RBI. Maycock also had three hits. Alex Couture took the loss on the hill in relief of starter Ryan Dee. Maine now has the second longest active win streak in Division I. Columbia has currently won 19 straight. The Black Bears are back in action with another three game conference series at UMass-Lowell beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
