Three state of Maine products came up big on Wednesday evening, as the Black Bears topped ACC opponent Boston College 5-4 in 10 innings in a non-conference baseball matchup at Eddie Pellagrini Diamond in Brighton, Massachusetts.
Caleb Vacchiano (Sacopee Valley) would reach base twice on an RBI single and a hit by pitch in extra innings, and would score the game winning run on a two-out single by Aidan Bardi in the 10th. Jason Libby (Bangor Christian) recorded four outs, retiring five batters on just six pitches allowing one hit in a scoreless 1.1 innings out of the bullpen. Brennan Rumpf (Falmouth), who hadn’t pitched in almost a month, set Boston College down in order in the last of the 10th to pick up his first career save. The Maine pen only gave up one unearned run, two hits, and one walk in 5.1 innings of work in relief of the starter of Vaun Larisa who was charged with three runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. Sebastian Holt (2-1) picked up the win with a scoreless ninth inning. Dean O’Neill hit a two-run homerun and Payton Whitehead smacked a solo shot, as they both led the way with two hits a piece. Beck Milner had two hits and three RBI including a two-run homer for the Eagles (22-24). Joey Ryan (2-4) took the pitching defeat in relief.
Maine is now 19-22 overall and takes some momentum into a huge America East road series at Bryant this weekend. The Black Bears are currently in second place in the conference at 12-6, while the defending champion Bulldogs sit in first at 10-5. The series opener is at 3 p.m. Friday, while the three game set concludes with 1 p.m. contests on both Saturday and Sunday.
