Owls earn split of Saturday twinbill
BANGOR — It had been exactly a month since the University of Maine at Presque Isle baseball team had taken the field for a game prior to Saturday’s doubleheader at Husson University. The Owls wasted no time finding a rhythm, defeating the Eagles in the opener, 5-3.
After falling by six runs early in the nightcap, a furious rally fell just short for the visitors as they lost 8-7 and settled for a split.
Husson moved to 3-6 while Presque Isle’s record is now 2-8. The Owls will not have to wait as long for their next games. On Friday, beginning at Centenary (N.J.) College, the team will begin a stretch of 11 games in 10 days as part of its spring trip that includes games in four other states.
UMPI’s victory over the Eagles was keyed by a four-run rally in the top of the second inning. Logan McLaughlin, a freshman from Mars Hill, scored the first Owl run on a Husson error followed by Justin Bergeron’s single down the left field line which plated Daniel Lewis.
Stephen Thorne, who reached on an error, then scored on a wild pitch. Carlos Villoria rounded out the UMPI scoring in the second inning with a single through the right side that allowed Bergeron to cross the plate for the final run of the frame.
Thorne drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.
Dylan Worster went all seven innings on the mound for the Owls, allowing three runs on 10 hits. He walked one and struck out three.
In game two, the Owls jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the first, thanks to a Tanner Marshall single through the right side which scored Villoria.
Josh Gaudette of the Eagles, however, had a big offensive day with two home runs in the contest. The first came in the bottom of the second and tied the score. Husson scored three times in the second and the two teams traded runs in the third before the hosts soared in front on an RBI triple by Pat Thibodeau of Caribou and another Gaudette blast.
Trailing 8-2, the Owls made some noise in the fifth. Jordan Duffy and Villoria both singled to load the bases after Bergeron was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. Joshua Gale brought in a run after also getting hit by a pitch, while Marshall and McLaughlin drew RBI bases on balls. An RBI groundout by Alex Csiernik brought in another run and Cam Morrell added a sacrifice fly to make it 8-7. That was as close as UMPI came as Husson reliever Casey Estey retired the final seven batters he faced to earn the save.
Jake Fillbrown was the losing pitcher for UMPI.
