Owl baseball team drops doubleheader
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine — The Lesley University Lynx swept a doubleheader Saturday, defeating the host University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls by scores of 9-1 and 7-4 in games played at historic Old Orchard Beach Ballpark.
It marked the end of the season for the Owls, who compiled a 6-21 record.
In game one, the Owls struck first with one out in the first. Matt Cauchon reached base on an infield throwing error and advanced to second. After an Adams Begos groundout that allowed Cauchon to take third on the throw, Cauchon scored on a wild pitch tossed by Lynx starter Bryan Hildebrand.
Lesley, based in Cambridge, Mass., answered in the next half inning as they plated four runs on five hits. Senior Ray Cohen knocked in the first run with a bases-loaded ground out before classmate Adam Ciampi followed with a ground out that knocked in Casey Blanchard. With two outs in the inning, Rob Parson and Gustavo Polidor connected on back-to-back RBI singles to put the Lynx up 4-1.
Lesley added two runs in the third and three more in the seventh to win going away. Hildebrand scattered seven hits in his five innings of work for his first career win.
Junior Tommy Collins led the Owl offense by going a perfect 3 for 3 with a stolen base.
Freshman Matt Curry suffered the pitching loss for UMPI as he went the distance, giving up nine runs (seven earned) on 17 hits while striking out a pair.
In the nightcap, Owls senior starter Ghaz Sailors could not cool the hot Lesley bats as the Lynx got out to a 5-0 lead after the second inning.
Lesley added two more runs in the third to extend their lead to 7-0 before UMPI finally got its offense going in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore designated hitter Mitch Thayer drew a leadoff walk while Curry singled and Saul Nunez was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. After an infield fly accounted for the first out of the inning, freshman Jesus Garcia delivered a two-run single to right field to plate Curry and Thayer.
Later in the inning, Cauchon sent a bases-loaded single through the left side of the infield to knock in Garcia and Nunez as the Owls cut the deficit to 7-4.
Senior Sailors took the loss in her final game for the Owls by giving up seven runs, with only one earned in her two-plus innings of work. Andrew Bartlett did a fine job with 4-1/3 innings of scoreless relief, only giving up three hits and striking out three. Curry capped his first season of collegiate ball with a 3-for-3 game and classmates Cauchon and Garcia each drove in two runs.
