Brody Rasmussen provided a game winning three-run double in the third inning on Saturday night, as the Maine baseball team hung on to beat Binghamton 8-6 in the middle game of an America East series at Mahaney Diamond in Orono.
The Black Bears took an early 3-0 lead on an Aidan Bardi RBI single in the first inning, and RBI singles by Rasmussen and Drew Reynolds in the second. The visiting Bearcats evened the score in the top of the third helped by an RBI double by Zach Rogacki and a two-run single from Devan Bade. Maine picked up four runs in the bottom half of the frame that ultimately won the game. Evan Menzel led off with a walk and then stole second base, before Bardi followed with another walk. With one out, Damon Gaither singled to leftfield to load the bases. After Payton Whitehead lined out to the pitcher, Chris Bear walked to force in Menzel before Rasmussen doubled into the gap in left center to clear the bases with a game winning three-run double to help snap a four game losing streak for his team. Freshman Tommy Martin would earn his first career win on the mound, while sophomore Jason Libby (Bangor Christian) was solid late out of the bullpen to pick up his second career collegiate save and his first with the Black Bears.
Rasmussen, Reynolds, Bardi, and Gaither each had two hits in the Maine victory. Rasmussen drove in four runs. Starter Caleb Leys only pitched 1.0 inning, as Martin (1-1) got that first career victory in relief by allowing six runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Libby the transfer from SMCC did walk three in his 3.0 innings, but didn’t allow a run on only one hit with one strikeout. Ryan Packard (3-5) suffered the pitching loss for Binghamton giving up five runs on six hits in 2.0 innings. Bade led the offense with two hits and three RBI, as the Bearcats fall to 22-22 and 10-10 in America East.
Maine (20-26, 13-10 in conference play) will meet Binghamton in the rubber match at 12 p.m on Sunday in what will be their last America East regular season game. The Black Bears, who host the league tournament in Orono 10 days from now, are currently in second place just a few percentage points ahead of NJIT in trying to earn a top two seed and a first round playoff bye.
