Runs in bunches for both teams was the story on Saturday in an America East baseball doubleheader at Varsity Field in Albany, New York between Maine and Albany. The result was a split in a tale of two very different games.
In the first game: Albany exploded for eight runs in the third and then nine more in the sixth to take a 19-3 win in a nine inning contest. Brad Malm led the Great Danes offense with three hits and four RBI, while both Travis Collins and Matt Codispoti added three RBI each to help Albany roll to the win. Cody Pasic had a pair of hits and a pair of RBI to lead Maine, while Kevin Doody knocked in the other with an RBI single.
Nick Silva (3-5) suffered the loss on the mound allowing six runs on three hits along with seven walks in just 2.1 innings. Freshman Jacob Small who only had pitched 12 innings all season so far also saw some action, and was roughed up in relief allowing five runs on 10 hits in 3.0 innings. Dominic Savino (1-4) got the win for Albany allowing three runs on five hits in 6.2 innings.
In game two: The visitors from Maine turned the tables by scoring 15 runs over the final three innings to pick up the split with a 16-1 win in a seven inning affair. The teams were tied at 1-1 through four innings on the strength of a Caleb Kerbs RBI groundout for the Bears, and a Malm RBI knock for the Great Danes. The guests broke it open in the fifth however, with a three run homer from Hernen Sardinas being the big hit in a six run outburst. Maine added five more in the sixth, and then four in the seventh including a Joe Bramanti three run homer. Bramanti had three hits and five RBI to lead the Bears. Danny Casals added three hits and two RBI, while both Kerbs and Sardinas had two hits and three RBI each.
Maines Cody Lawyerson (3-3) continued his good pitching of late by getting the win allowing just one run, seven hits, with three walks, and three strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Lawyerson has only allowed five runs in his last five outings, allowing 23 hits in 32.2 innings with 34 strikeouts. John Clayton (4-3) took the loss by allowing six runs and seven hits over 4.1 innings. Collins and Patrick Lagravinese had two hits for the Great Danes.
Maine sees their overall record go to 9-25, 7-6 in America East. Albany is 18-20, 8-9. The rubber game of the three game series is Sunday at 12 noon.
