NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. — The UMPI Owls baseball team was able to salvage a win out of four games against Newbury College played March 3 and 4.
The Owls scored four times in the sixth inning and added four more in the seventh to prevail, 11-3, in the first game of the March 4 doubleheader.
Matt Curry, a sophomore from Caribou, pitched the seven-inning complete game, striking out two, walking four and allowing five hits. Brady Rowe, a senior from Halifax, Nova Scotia, went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and three runs scored to pace the offense, while Matt Cauchon, a sophomore from Kingston, Mass., went 2 for 4 and scored three times while driving in a run. Curry also finished with three RBIs.
Newbury took the nightcap, 6-2, as UMPI managed just four hits off starter Tim Brown. Saul Nunez, a sophomore from Mapleton, suffered the pitching loss as he allowed 10 hits and all six runs, striking out four while not issuing a walk.
The previous afternoon, UMPI was swept in the twinbill, losing the first game 5-4 in nine innings and the second, 5-0. Rowe had three hits in the extra-inning loss, while starting pitcher Tyler McLaughlin, a sophomore from Fremont, Calif., did not figure in the decision but pitched well. He gave up only three earned runs in eight innings of work. Jesus Garcia, a sophomore from Jewett City, Conn., took the loss in relief.
Andrew Bartlett, a senior from Damariscotta, got the Game 2 start and was solid (three earned runs, six strikeouts) despite suffering the loss as the Owl offense managed just two hits in the contest.
“Our pitching staff did a great job throughout the series, giving us chances to win games,” said Owl coach Mike Pankow. “Our offense showed signs of what it is capable of, but we need more consistency from our bats. Once we get there, we will be a very dangerous team.”
The Owls, with a 2-8 record, do not play again until Saturday and Sunday when they travel back to Northborough to play Anna Maria in a four-game series.
