Orono, Maine - Mike Tirri finished with three hits and three RBI in a game two win to lead UAlbany to an America East Conference baseball doubleheader split with Maine at Mahaney Diamond on Saturday afternoon. The Black Bears won the first game, 9-5, while UAlbany took the nightcap, 12-5.

            UAlbany built up an 8-1 lead after three innings of game two. Mike Tirri drove in one run in the second with a single into left, while Kyle Crean sent Ralph Keppler home with a double to right. Nolan Gaige sent two baserunners home with a base hit through the left side to give the Great Danes a 4-0 advantage. UAlbany added four more in the third, started with an RBI single by Greg Muller that scored Brian Bullard. Brendan Rowland added a second run, scoring on a wild pitch, while Muller made it home on a Keppler single. The Great Danes wrapped up scoring in the frame with a sacrifice fly by Gaige that scored Keppler. Maine scored a single run in the bottom of the inning with a RBI double by Tony Patane, but UAlbany pitcher Ryan White worked out of the inning to keep the Great Danes ahead.

            Both teams scored single runs in the fourth. Muller knocked his second RBI hit of the game, scoring Bullard, who led off with a double for UAlbany. Maine's run came across on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Patzalek, scoring Joe Mercurio. UAlbany continued to add to its lead in the sixth, scoring three runs. Adam Cutspec led off with a single, before Maine intentionally walked Rowland and loaded the bases with a walk to Muller. All runners advanced on a wild pitch, while Mike Tirri drove in the next two runs with a double to right center.

            Maine scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth behind a two-run homer by Joe Mercurio that sailed over the left field wall. The Black Bears added one additional run in the bottom of the ninth on a solo shot by Justin Leisenheimer.

            White earned the win after five and two thirds innings of action, while Greg Lutton completed his second save of the season with a three-inning performance. Keith Bilodeau took the loss for Maine after allowing eight earned runs.

            After falling behind, 3-0, in the first inning of game one, the Great Danes tied it up in the top of the second. With two outs, Ralph Rizzo knocked a two-run single through the left side, before Gaige drove an RBI hit into left center to score Rizzo. Maine responded in the bottom of the inning as Michael Fransoso smashed a two-run shot over the right field wall to give the Black Bears a 5-3 advantage.

            Maine scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to build up an 8-3 lead. Patane recorded a two-RBI single, while Joey Martin reached on a bases-loaded fielder's choice that sent Patane home. UAlbany attempted to rally in the sixth, putting one run on the board behind a sacrifice fly by Muller that scored Keppler. Maine responded with a single run in the bottom of the inning, before the Great Danes added an additional run on an RBI-single by Keppler.

            Zach Kraham took the loss for the Great Danes after a four-inning outing with four strikeouts. Maine reliever Steve Perakslis, fanning three in two and two thirds innings. The Black Bears outhit UAlbany, 12-11, while each team committed two errors in the game.

UAlbany (10-35, AE 9-11) and Maine (29-20, AE 12-7) will wrap up the three-game series on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany                        030       001       1          -           5          11        2

Maine                           320       301       x           -           9          12        2

            UAlbany: Zach Kraham, Brian Gauthier (5) and Ralph Keppler.

            Maine: Jeffrey Gibbs, Steve Perakslis (4), Justin Latta (7) and Joe Mercurio.

UAlbany (10-35, AE 9-11)          044       103       000       -           12        14        0

Maine (29-20, AE 12-7)             001       102       001       -           5          10        3

            UAlbany: Ryan White, Greg Lutton (6) and Ralph Keppler.

            Maine: Keith Bilodeau, Joe Miller, Myckie Lugbauer, Nick deVries and Tyler Patzalek.

Maine 9, UAlbany 5 (May 15, 2010)

The Automated ScoreBook
Albany at Maine (Game 1)
May 15, 2010 at Orono, Maine (Mahaney Diamond)

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Albany.............. 030 001 1 -  5 11  2
Maine............... 320 301 X -  9 12  2
-----------------------------------------

UAlbany 12, Maine 5 (May 15, 2010)

The Automated ScoreBook
Albany at Maine (Game 2)
May 15, 2010 at Orono, Maine (Mahaney Diamond)

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Albany.............. 044 103 000 - 12 14  0
Maine............... 001 102 001 -  5 10  3
-------------------------------------------