Maine scored five times in the first inning on Sunday afternoon, and would defeat UMBC 11-1 in the rubber game of a three game America East baseball series at Mahaney Diamond in Orono.
Juju Stevens provided all the Black Bears would need with a two-run double down the rightfield line as part of that five run first to take an early 5-0 lead. While the Maine offense was plugging away, Vaun Larisa (2-3) was doing his thing on the mound in picking up the pitching win with a very solid effort going 7.0 innings allowing one run on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Stevens had two hits and three RBI and also scored twice. Chris Bear did the game with a two hit, three RBI game. Albert De Le Rosa added two hits and knocked in two. UMBC got two hits and a RBI from Anthony Mascuilli in falling to 20-18 and 8-7 in America East. Maine improves to 14-25 and also takes over second place in the conference with a 9-6 record. The Black Bears have two mid-week non-conference games coming up by hosting Bowdoin College on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Orono, before taking on Northeastern at Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Firld in Portland at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Maine will then head to first place Binghamton for a three game league series next weekend.
Photo of Larisa from UMaine Athletics
