WATERVILLE, ME

The Diamond Owls traveled south to play another home conference doubleheader on the road, this time it would be against the Thomas Terriers, who were fresh off a series win over the defending champion Husson Eagles. The Owls were fresh off a four-game split with UMF and had just a day of rest between.

Game 1: (13-0 Terriers)

How it Happened:

Perhaps the fatigue got the better of UMPI to start out this one, as the Terriers jumped all over the Owls in the top of the 1^st. A single, double, and another single, made it 2-0 just three batters into the game. The Terriers piled a little more on later in the inning thanks to a couple errors, and a sac fly and they led 5-0 after one half inning.

Thomas would continue the pattern of scoring in every single inning the rest of the way, but none of which would be as damaging as that 1^st inning. They scored two in the 2^nd, one in the next three innings, two in the 6^th, and one in the 7^th as the nine-inning game was shortened to seven with the run-rule in effect.

All-in-all the Terriers finished the game 13-0 on 12 hits.

UMPI struggled to string things together in their offensive opportunities, leaving seven runners on, five of which were in scoring position as they were shutout.

At the Plate:

The Owls managed five hits as a squad, including a pair of doubles by 1–2-hole Sam Bay and Hector Perez. Garrett Chadwick went 1-3, Ricky Garcia added a single, and the highlight of the game was Pitcher-Only, Spencer Harman, challenging his title as a P.O. by recording his first career hit during his final collegiate season in the bottom of the 7^th inning with a bloop hit into left-center.

On the Mound:

Michael Langley made the start, throwing into the 2^nd, and allowing five earned runs. Nolan Christiansen relieved Langley and threw 3.1 innings of solid relief allowing two earned runs and recording UMPI's only strikeout of the contest. Danielle Moser threw an inning, allowing one earned, and Ricky Garcia made his first ever appearance on the mound, throwing the top of the 7^th and allowing one earned.

Game 2: (9-1 Terriers)

How it Happened:Ha

The Owls did their best to make sure game two was not a repeat of the game that preceded it. They accomplished that nearly the whole way, but it was the offense that lagged behind.

The Terriers did strike in the 1^st inning again, but were held to two runs as starter Jonah Baude forced them to strand a pairing. Two singles for UMPI proved promising, but a strike-him-out, throw-him-out ended the inning in dramatic fashion for Thomas.

Jonah Baude settled into a grove over the next two innings, as he faced just seven batters in the 2^nd and 3^rd innings combined, but unfortunately, so did Thomas' seasoned starter Jarrad Willette. In the 4^th, the Terriers tacked on a couple more thanks to a two-run shot, and they grabbed a 4-0 lead.

In the 5^th, the Owls grabbed their first run of the doubleheader, with a two-out rally kick-started by a  Sam Bay double, who continues to produce well out of the lead-off spot for UMPI. Hector Perez hit a shot to the gap in right field while both outfielders collided, and the ball got by. The collision allowed Bay in easily and allowed Perez to go all the way to third. He'd be stranded there, but the Owls were on the board.

Thomas added one run in the 6^th inning, before blowing the game open in their final at bat with four runs in the top of the 7^th. The Owls were unable to rally in each of the last two innings as the Terriers slammed the door. The 9-1 final score was not indicative of how most of the game went.

At the Plate:

UMPI had just three hits as a team in tis one, two of them came from Sam Bay. He went 2-3 with a double and the only run scored. Garrett Chadwick had the other hit for UMPI with a single in the 1^st inning. Two of the three Owls hits came in the bottom of the 1^st before Jarrad Willette started dealing.

On the Mound:

Jonah Baude threw well until the very last inning, as he went 6.2 innings. He allowed eight earned runs, walked four while striking out three batters on 96 pitches. Spencer Harman came in and threw the final out for UMPI.

Next Up:

The Owls drop to 6-17 overall and 3-13 in conference play. They will get another one-day break before playing four more games with Thomas College this weekend at Presque Isle High School. Sunday's doubleheader beginning at noon, will be senior day. Over the last six days of their season, the Owls will have played 10 games.