The Diamond Owls got back to action on Monday at the University of Maine at Augusta after a day off on Sunday due to the rain. It was simply not meant to be for the young Owls, who dropped two more close games in walk-off fashion. Across the four game series, every game was decided by a run, with just one swinging in UMPI's direction.
Game 1: 4-3 Moose
The Owls were right there again in game one, matching Augusta hit-for-hit in a low-scoring battle. Augusta struck first on an early error, but UMPI answered in the 6th inning. Mitchell Kley tied the game with an RBI single, and Diego Maldonado followed with a clutch two-RBI knock to give the Owls a 3-1 lead. Maldonado had his best start of the year on the mound as well, going six innings and allowing just two earned runs while keeping UMPI in control late. But the 7th inning turned the game, as it so often did in this series. Augusta capitalized on walks and timely hitting, putting together a three-run frame to take a 4-3 lead. UMPI couldn't answer in the final at-bats, dropping another close one. Kley, Chadwick, and Bay all had multi-hit games as the Owls finished with nine hits in the loss.
Game 2: 3-2 Moose
The finale was another tight, back-and-forth matchup that came down to one swing. Augusta jumped out early with a two-run homer in the 1st, but UMPI chipped away. An error brought in a run in the 2nd, and Kley came through again in the 3rd with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2. From there, both teams settled in. Garrett Chadwick turned in a strong outing on the mound, going 6.2 innings and allowing just three runs while keeping the Owls within striking distance all game. In the 7th, Augusta broke the tie with an RBI single, and despite chances late, UMPI couldn't find the equalizer, falling 3-2.
Across both days, UMPI showed they can compete in tight games, splitting the opening day before coming up just short in two one-run losses to close the series. The offense had its moments, especially in the 13-run outburst in game two on day one, but consistency and limiting mistakes proved to be the difference late in games. One of the biggest highlights of the weekend came from Garrett Chadwick, who recorded his 100th career hit during day two. It's a major milestone and a reflection of the consistency he's brought to the lineup throughout his career. Players like Mitchell Kley continued to stay hot at the plate, while Mason Long and Sammy Bay delivered in key moments. On the mound, Chadwick abd Maldonado both turned in strong performance that gave the Owls chances to win, but it simply would not be, and both took losses.
Next Up:
UMPI sits at 7-18 on the year, and pending field conditions, will return home this weekend for a NAC series against VTSU-Lyndon on the 25th and 26th. They look to bounce back and get in the win column in front of their home crowd.
