A Playoff Turnaround
The University of Maine baseball team split its Friday schedule, falling to Binghamton before rebounding with a decisive win over UMBC that propelled the Black Bears into the America East Championship game.
Albert De La Rosa sparked the offense with his second solo home run of the playoffs, while Troy Carpenter’s RBI double brought home Juju Stevens in the early innings.
A three‑run seventh inning stretched the lead, highlighted by RBI singles from Carpenter, Shane Andrus and Quinn Murphy, before Hunter St. Denis added a ninth‑inning solo homer to push Maine ahead.
Starter Thomas Stabley worked five innings, surrendering only two runs, but reliever Sebastian Holt absorbed the loss after giving up three runs on two hits and five walks.
Brody Rasmussen contributed a sac fly in the third and Nic Pepe capped the scoring with an RBI single, while Pierce Friedman delivered six and two‑thirds solid innings and Tommy Martin closed the game with a perfect final frame.
The Black Bears now turn their focus to a Saturday, May 23 showdown with Binghamton, a contest whose start time may be adjusted due to inclement weather.