Bangor, ME – The University of Maine at Presque Isle traveled to Bangor to face the Husson Eagles in the start of a four game series on Sunday.
Husson University (20-14) came into the opening game tied in the loss column with Thomas College for the top spot in the North Atlantic Conference with the NAC Playoffs just a week away. UMPI, who has taken several NAC teams into extra innings but have not yet been able to finish off a Conference win, was out to be the spoiler. The four game series originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday was moved to Sunday and Monday due to Saturday's weather conditions.
In the first game which began at 11:00 AM, the Owls once again got out to a promising start scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning and carrying that lead into the 4th. Husson got on the scoreboard in the top of the 2nd inning scoring 1 run when Alex Chapman scored on a RBI single by Michael Schneider. In the bottom of the 2nd frame Justin Mason (Sr. Stamford, CT) hit a deep shot to left center for a 2 RBI double scoring Jordan Hanscom (So. Lincoln, ME) and Colby Spencer (So. Swan Quarter, NC). Hanscom had singled, Spencer reached on an error and Richard Coulston (Fr. Bullhead City, AZ) singled to load the bases before Mason's hit. Brad Patterson followed with a long double of his own scoring both Coulston and Mason and the Owls had a 4 to 1 lead.
The 4th inning proved to be the achilles heel for UMPI. Husson put together a long half inning, scoring 7 runs on on a variety of soft and hard hits, a bases loaded walk, and an error, and turned a three run deficit into an 8 to 4 lead. The Eagles' Nolan Brown and Nick Guerrette each had RBI singles and the key hit of the inning was a bases clearing double by Ethan Stoddard.
Me-Presque Isle came right back with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the 4th inning as Alexe De La Pena (So. Porterville, CA) crossed the plate on a Brad Patterson (Jr. Harker Heights, TX) RBI single to centerfield. Will Stinson (Jr. Norridgewok, ME) followed with a double to leftfield scoring Patterson and the Owls trailed 8 to 6.
Both Teams got solid pitching performances and defense for the final 5 innings of play with neither team able to score, and the Eagles walked away with the 8 to 6, nine inning, North Atlantic Conference victory.
Braydon Kennedy (Fr. Titusville, FL) took the loss on the mound for UMPI while Roberto De La Pena (Jr. Porterville, CA) and Ian McCray (Fr. Coppell, TX) combined for 5.2 innings of scoreless relief pitching. Ben Bernier got the pitching win for Husson hurling 3 innings of relief and Nolan Dousa picked up his 4th save of the season for the Eagles.
Brad Patterson and Jordan Hanscom were repeat hitters for UMPI with Patterson going 4 for 5 at the plate. Conor McGuire went 4 for 4 at the dish for Husson University.
Game #2: In the second game of the doublheader, Husson would score 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning and then ride the pitching of their starter Jesse Colford who went 5 innings, allowing just 1 hit, walking none and striking out 9 UMPI hitters. Matt Smith pitched the 6th and 7th innings allowing 0 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. The only hit the Owls could manage in Game #2 was a single by Colby Spencer.
The Eagles would connect for 10 hits with Ethan Stoddard and Nick Guerrette each getting 2 hits, and roll to an 11 to 0 win.
Next up: The same two teams play game #3 and #4 of their series tomorrow (Monday) at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
