Leahey Has Strong Day as Baseball Splits with UMPI

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass.—Senior Matthew Leahey (Rutland, Mass.) batted 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, and five RBI for Anna Maria College in the team's non-conference split with UMaine-Presque Isle on Sunday morning. The Owls claimed game one 10-3 before Anna Maria rallied for a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

With today's results, Anna Maria improves to 2-13 on the season, while UMPI now sits at 3-10.

GAME ONE – PRESQUE ISLE 10, ANNA MARIA 3

Leahey pushed all three runs across the plate for Anna Maria in game one, as he notched a solo homerun in the first inning to plate the team's first run before batting a double in the sixth inning that scored James Marcello (Mansfield, Mass.) and Camden Brown (Gardner, Mass.).

The UMPI bats were hot in the first game, as the team scored 10 runs on 16 hits. Tommy Collins posted a game-high three hits from the last slot in the batting order, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI. Jesus Garcia batted in a team-best three runs, while Matt Cauchon and Matt Curry both recorded doubles.

The AMCATS took an early lead off of Leahey's home run in the bottom of the first but it was short-lived, as UMPI answered with two runs in the top of the second off of RBI singles by Garcia and Collins. The Owls had a high-scoring third inning as they pushed six runs across the plate for an 8-1 lead.

After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, UMPI took a 10-1 lead in the top of the fifth as a single up the middle by Curry scored Cauchon and Collins.  

Freshman Daniel Chambers (Westfield, Mass.) took the loss on the mound for Anna Maria, giving up 10 runs and 16 hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. He was relieved by Brown, who struck out three and walked one without giving up a hit or run in 2.2 innings.

Curry earned the win for UMPI with a six-hit, three-run complete-game performance. He struck out two and did not give up a walk.

GAME TWO – ANNA MARIA 3, PRESQUE ISLE 2

Anna Maria fought off a seventh-inning rally by UMPI to take victory in the final game of the four-game series. The AMCATS held a 3-0 lead heading into the final inning, but the home team gave the Owls two free bases on walks to start the inning.

A well-timed double-play after UMPI scored twice gave the AMCATS their first two outs of the inning, and after an infield single by Adam Begos put the game-tying run on base, the next UMPI batter grounded out to second base to end the game.

In the bottom of the third inning, Brown took charge on the base paths for Anna Maria. After he singled, he stole second base, then stole third base, and then headed for home as the throw to third base went into the outfield. Meanwhile, Marcello moved to second on the play, ultimately scoring himself on a single by Leahey.

Leahey pulled through again in the fifth inning as he notched another single through the left side to score Brown from second base. Brown, the leadoff batter in the inning, reached on an error in center field and advanced to second on a balk.

Leahey finished with two hits in the nightcap, while Nate Gray (Kingston, N.Y.) and Brown also recorded hits.

Freshman Matt Elliot (Attleboro, Mass.) earned the win on the mound for Anna Maria, scattering six hits, two earned runs, five walks and four strikeouts over his six innings of action. Trevor Brown (Gardner, Mass.) earned his first save of the season and gave up two hits in an inning of work.

Despite the loss, Presque Isle out-hit the AMCATS on the day, finishing with eight hits to Anna Maria's four. Brady Rowe, Curry, and Begos all finished with two hits apiece, while Garcia and Collins added single hits.

Saul Nunez pitched a complete-game for UMPI, scattering four hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out four.

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts Eastern Nazarene for a nine-inning game at 3:00 p.m. at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Mass.