The University of Southern Maine had their baseball season come to an end on Monday, falling to Rowan University 13-8 in the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament Championship game at Ed Flaherty Field in Gorham.
The Profs jumped out big early as they did in the first regional game between the two on Sunday, scoring four runs in the second inning and twice more in the fourth for a 6-0 lead. The Huskies, with their season on the line and trying to force a winner take all second game, got back into it with a four spot in the top of the sixth. Carter Higgins and Mike Anquillare had RBI singles, Higgins would score on a balk, and Chris Quigley reached on an error allowing the fourth run to come home. Kyle Douin (Cony) led off the seventh with a solo homerun down the leftfield line to slice it to 6-5. But top seeded Rowan flexed their muscle and responded in their half of the seventh inning with six runs to put the game away. The key hit was the second grandslam of the regional by Brayden Davis, both of them coming against USM.
Davis had two hits and had six RBI for Rowan (35-5). Damon Suriani added three hits and three RBI, while Evan McCoach from the leadoff spot reached base three times with two hits, two RBI, one walk, and two runs scored. Christian Rice (6-0) kept his record perfect on the mound as he allowed three earned runs on six hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts in 5.1 innings. The Profs are headed to the best of three super regionals and will await their opponent and location for those games later this week. Gabe Gifford (Old Town) had two RBI for USM. Peter Keblinsky (Ellsworth) added three hits, two for doubles, while Caleb Vacchiano (Sacopee) contributed a pair of hits. Carson Black (Sacopee) suffered the pitching loss giving up five earned runs on 10 hits with five walks and one strikeout in 6.1 innings. Keblinsky also pitched 1.2 innings and was charged with five runs on three hits and two walks. The Huskies end up at 32-12, reaching the NCAA Tournament for a 27th time, and the first time since 2021.
Photos from USM Athletics
