Baseball Claims First Win of 2016 in Split with UMPI

Baseball Claims First Win of 2016 in Split with UMPI

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass.—Freshman Callan Finn-McMahon (West Hartford, Conn.) earned his first collegiate victory on the mound for the Anna Maria College baseball team in the AMCATS' 5-1 win over the Owls of UMaine-Presque Isle in game one of Saturday's non-conference doubleheader. UMPI claimed victory in game two with a comeback 10-9 win in extra innings.

Today's decisions bring the AMCATS to 1-12 on the season and UMP to 3-9.

GAME ONE – ANNA MARIA 5, UMAINE-PRESQUE ISLE 1

Finn-McMahon gave up just one run in the top of the third inning in the complete-game effort. He scattered four hits, struck out three, and walked three.

Offensively, the AMCATS were led by freshman James Marcello (Mansfield, Mass.) and sophomore Tanner Jakola (Leominster, Mass.), who both finished 1-for-2 with two RBI apiece. Marcello also scored twice himself. Sophomore Trevor Brown (Gardner, Mass.) batted 2-for-3.

After two full scoreless innings, the Owls struck first, Tommy Collin singled from the no. nine slot, advanced to second on a groundout by Matt Cauchon, and then scored on a single to right field by Brady Rowe.

The Owls loaded the bases in the third inning but the AMCATS managed to get out of it without further damage as second baseman Joseph Fahey (Auburn, Mass.) fielded a ground ball, stepped on second, and fired to first to complete the double play.

The AMCATS carried the momentum from the double play into their own at-bat in the bottom of the inning, as Brown singled, stole second, and scored on a double by Marcello. A groundout by Fahey pushed Marcello to third, where he then scored on a wild pitch for the 2-1 lead.

Anna Maria would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Marcello and Fahey reached on a fielder's choice and single, respectively, and both moved up a base on a groundout by Matt Leahey (Rutland, Mass.). That brought Jakola to the plate, who singled to left field to score both runners.

In the bottom of the sixth, Nick Feola (North Providence, R.I.) singled, then stole second before advancing to third on a fielder's choice before scoring on a sacrifice-fly to center field by Marcello. The Owls loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with two outs, but a groundout to third base ended the game.

Tyler McLaughlin took the loss on the mound for Presque Isle despite striking out nine AMCAT batters. He scattered five hits and four runs over five complete innings. Jesus Garcia gave up one hit and one run in one inning of relief.

The Owls totaled four hits over the seven innings.

GAME TWO – PRESQUE ISLE 10, ANNA MARIA 9 – NINE INNINGS

The AMCATS held a four-run lead entering the seventh inning, but UMPI rattled off four runs to tie the score at 6-6 and ultimately force extra innings, adding a single run in the top of the ninth to claim the comeback win.

Anna Maria combined for 13 hits on the day led by a 3-for-6 effort for Fahey. He also scored three runs and tallied an RBI.

Fahey's RBI was the first run of the game, as he singled to center to score Marcello, who had reached base and advanced to second on an error in the bottom of the third.

The AMCATS would take a 2-0 lead as Fahey scored a batter later on a single by Leahey. Anna Maria added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth on the strength of four hits, including three doubles by Elliot, Feola, and Marcello.

UMPI chipped away at the AMCATS lead in the top of the sixth, using a hit-by-pitch and a double by Ryan Sanders to set up Jesus Garcia for a two-RBI single down the left-field line.

Anna Maria added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and it would prove useful, as the Owls capitalized on two AMCAT errors and added two hits to score four runs. Leadoff batter Brady Rowe walked and moved to second on a single by Matt Curry. Adam Begos reached on an error that scored Rowe, and Solomon Fast doubled, scoring Curry.

After an Anna Maria pitching change, Ryan Sanders popped up for the second out. Two more runs scored as Garcia reached on a throwing error by the third baseman before Saul Nunez ended the inning on a groundout.

Anna Maria would load the bases in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to push a run home. Both teams scored three runs each in the eighth inning before UMPI plated the deciding run in the top of the ninth.

Jakola got the start on the mound for Anna Maria and scattered seven hits and six runs (four earned) over 6.1 innings of work. Brenden Matthews (Worcester, Mass.) and Colin Fitzgerald (Worcester, Mass.) both saw 0.2 innings in relief but the decision ultimately went to Marcello, who gave up just one hit and one run in 1.1 innings of work.

Nunez earned the win for UMPI, giving up three hits and one run in the final two innings of the game. Andrew Bartlett was credited with the start and scattered eight hits and five runs (three earned) over 3.2 innings.

UMPI's eight hits were recorded by eight different players.

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria and Presque Isle continue their four-game series tomorrow with a 10:00 a.m. doubleheader at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Mass.