The University of Maine baseball squad turned a surprise upset into a championship berth, downing second‑seeded UMBC in the America East title game on Tuesday night.
Quinn Murphy ignited the offense with a bases‑clearing double in the opening inning, driving in three runs, while Troy Carpenter added a two‑run homer in the fifth, his 15th of the season.
On the mound, Vaun Larisa worked five and one‑third innings, surrendering four runs on eight hits, before Brennan Rumpf shut the door with three and two‑thirds scoreless innings to earn the save.
Clutch Moments Define the Series
The late‑game heroics underscored the team’s resilience, with Murphy’s double shifting momentum early and Carpenter’s blast extending the lead.
Coach Mike McCoy praised the collective effort, highlighting the depth of the pitching staff and the confidence in the lineup as the squad prepares for the next challenge.
The Black Bears now turn their attention to a showdown with top‑seeded Binghamton on May 22, a matchup that will decide the league’s representative at the national championship game the following day.