Baseball: UMaine falls in extras to Albany

Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) belted a triple with two outs in the ninth inning scoring Taylor Lewis (Montville. Conn.) from second base to tie the game at 6-6, but a pinch hit home run by Jeff Welsh in the top of the 12th inning gave Albany a 7-6 win in baseball on Monday afternoon. The Black Bears fall to 15-21 on the season and 5-5 in America East play. Albany improves to 14-20 overall and 6-4 in conference play.

Albany scored two runs in the top of the first inning. Nolan Gaige walked to lead off the top of the first inning. Kyle Crean and Josh Nethaway were each hit to load the bases. Pete DiResta followed with a single to center field, scoring both Gaige and Crean.

Maine got a run back in the bottom of the first. Taylor Lewis led off with a ground rule double that went over the center field fence. He moved to third on a Michael Fransoso sacrifice bunt and scored on a Joey Martin (Portland, Maine) sacrifice fly.

Maine took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Joey Martin led off the inning with a triple to right field. He scored when Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village. N.Y.) singled to center field. Fran Whitten (Middleborough, Mass.). followed with a single through the right side. Justin Leisenheimer scored the second run of the inning when twin brother, Ian Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) singled.

Albany tied the game in the top of the fifth inning. Gaige had a bunt single and moved to second on an error. He advanced to third when Crean grounded out and scored when Nethaway grounded out.

The Great Danes then took a 6-3 lead with three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Greg Muller singled up the middle and D.J. Hoagboon followed with a single to left field. Both runners advanced a base on a passed ball. Joe Ilacqua followed with a two-run single to center field scoring both runners. He advanced to second on the throw and scored when Mike Tirri singled up the middle.

Maine answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Ian Leisenheimer was hit by a pitch. Colin Gay (Franklin, Mass.) then pinch ran for Leisenheimer. Gay advanced to second when Troy Black (Mississauga, Ontario) singled to center field. Gay scored when Fransoso doubled to left field.

Maine tied the game in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the ninth inning. Calbick (Burnaby, British Columbia) led off the inning and drew a walk. He was pinch run for by Eric White (Brewer, Maine). White advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored Lewis doubled to left field. Fransoso then tripled to center field plating Lewis from second base to tie the game at 6-6.

The game remained knotted at 6-6 until Jeff Welsh hit a pinch hit home run in the top of the 12th inning.

A.J. Bazdanes (Nashua, N.H) went 4.2 innings on the mound. He allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on four hits. He struck out a pair of batters. He was replaced by Jonathan Balentina (Willemstad, Curacao) went 1.2 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits. He was replaced by Shaun Coughlin (Northfield, Conn.) who went 2.2 innings. He allowed one run on a pair of hits while striking out two. D.J. Voisine (Plainville, Conn.) pitched the final three innings. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out two. He picks up the loss and falls to 1-1 on the season.

Zach Kraham got the start on the mound for Albany. He went six innings and allowed four runs on six hits. He struck out four batters. Greg Lutton pitched the next 2.2 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits. Kevin Cowan and Austin Chase each went two thirds of an inning. Ryan White pitched an inning allowing one hit. He picks up the win and improves to 2-3 on the sesaon. Matt Drybus pitched the bottom of the 12. He earned his second save.

Maine returns to action on Wednesday, April 27 when it travels to Old Orchard Beach, Maine to face Rhode Island. The game time has been moved up to 3:30 pm.

Baseball: Maine sweeps Albany

Maine pitcher Keith Bilodeau (38) gets congratulated by teammates (Photo BDN/Michael C York)

The University of Maine baseball team swept a doubleheader from Albany on Sunday afternoon, shutting out the Great Danes 3-0 in the first game, before taking the nightcap 5-3. Maine improves to 15-20 on the season with the wins and 5-4 in America East Conference play. Albany falls to 13-20 overall and 5-4 in conference play.

In the first game after a pair of scoreless innings, Maine took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Troy Black (Mississauga, Ontario) led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) drew a walk. Both runners advanced a base on a double steal. Joey Martin (Portland, Maine) singled to center field driving home both Black and Fransoso.

Maine added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a run. Tyler Patzalek (Burlington, Ontario) singled to left field. Mike Connolly (Middleborough, Mass.) then pinch ran for Patzalek. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Calbick (Burnaby, British Columbia) and scored when Black singled to right field.

That was all the scoring in the game, as the Black Bears completed their second shutout of the season.

Maine pitcher Keith Bilodeau (Bourne, Mass.) was outstanding on the mound. He pitched the complete game and allowed just a pair of hits while striking out seven. It was his team-leading third complete game of the season and first complete game shutout. Bilodeau improves to 5-2 on the season.

Dave Kubiak went six innings on the mound for Albany. He allowed three runs on six hits. He struck out four batters, while walking four. He moves to 4-4 on the season.

In the second game, Maine jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Taylor Lewis (Montville, Conn.) drew a walk and Michael Fransoso followed with a double to the left center field fence, plating Lewis from first base. Fransoso advanced to third on a Joey Martin sacrifice bunt and scored when Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) singled to center field. Fran Whitten (Westborough, Mass.) and Tyler Patzalek then had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Maine extended its lead to 3-0 when Calbick drew a bases loaded walk, forcing home Justin Leisenheimer from third base. Whitten scored when Colin Gay (Franklin, Mass.) singled to left field. Patzalek scored the fifth run of the inning when Black singled to right center field.

Albany got on the board with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Joe Ilacqua walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored when Nolan Gaige doubled to left center field.

Albany got two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Gaige drew a walk and scored when Kyle Crean doubled to right center. Crean, who advanced to third base on a wild pitch, scored when Josh Nethaway hit a sacrifice fly to left field.

Jeffrey Gibbs (Toronto, Ontario) went six innings on the mound for the Black Bears. He allowed one run on a pair of hits. He struck out six batters in the game and improves to 4-4 on the season. He was replaced by Stephen Perakslis (Abington, Mass.) who went one inning. He allowed two runs on one hit while striking out one. He was replaced by Shaun Coughlin (Northfield, Conn.) who picked up his first save of the season. Coughlin went two innings without allowing a hit. He struck out four batters.

Kasceim Graham went seven innings for Albany. He allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out five. He falls to 2-1 on the season. Matt Dybus pitched the eighth inning for the Great Danes and surrendered just one hit.

Maine and Albany conclude their three game America East series with a single game on Monday, April 25 starting at 2 PM at Mahaney Diamond.

"Kiss Your Baby Day" Links

The State Champion Windham Eagles football team received their championship rings last night

Nate Robinson sparked a 16-4 2nd half Celtics run that helped Boston escape Detroit with a 105-100 win.

The Bruins played 2 good periods of hockey. Unfortunately, hockey games are 3 periods, and they fell to the Habs 4-1. The NHL Trade deadline is today at 3 PM.

The Black Bears baseball team got a win against Valparaiso.

Bill Swift Talking Baseball

South Portland native, UMaine grad, and former Major League pitcher Bill Swift joined us to talk Maine baseball. You can listen below.

Wednesday Links

With apologies to Jackie Gleason, "And awaaaaaaay we go!"

• With the Red Sox pitching staff starting to diminish thanks to (possible) injury and suspension, Clay Buchholz and Devern Hansack are also injured. Hat tip to our good friend Kevin Thomas for that one.
• The Celtics edged the 76ers without the suspended Ray Allen.
• UMaine baseball improved to 20-13 on the season with a sweep of Hartford.
• Dice-K left the game with "arm fatigue", J-Mas (Justin Masterson) pitched 4 sterling innings of relief. Get away game this afternoon at 3:35 PM on the usual stations (WJAB 96.3 Radio, NESN for TV).
• The Sea Dogs close out their first homestand of the year tonight at 6 PM, looking for a sweep against New Britain. Tickets are available at the Sea Dogs website.
  

University of Maine Baseball Live Blog!

Join the CMSB for another Saturday of live blogging as the Unversity of Maine Baseball team hosts Sacred Heart for a double-header starting at 1pm. Jeff will be live from Mahaney diamond as the team plays a regular season game on the new field turf for the first time.