Orono, Maine - After two scoreless extra frames, pinch hitter Jeff Welsh drove a solo homer over the left field fence to give UAlbany a 7-6 win over Maine in the three-game America East Conference baseball series finale at Mahaney Diamond on Monday afternoon.

            UAlbany scored two runs in the first inning to take an early lead. The Great Danes loaded the bases with a lead-off walk issued to Nolan Gaige, while the next two batters were hit by pitches. Pete DiResta knocked a single into center field, sending Gaige and Kyle Crean across home plate. UAlbany juiced the bases again, but Maine's A.J. Bazdanes worked out of the inning. The Black Bears responded with one run scored in the bottom of the frame, as Taylor Lewis, who led off with a double, came home on an RBI single by Joey Martin.

            Maine took a one-run lead in the bottom of the fourth. Martin led off the inning with a triple and scored the first run of the inning on a base hit by Justin Leisenheimer. Four batters later, Ian Leisenheimer singled up the middle to send the go-ahead run home. UAlbany tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth, as Gaige scored an unearned run on a ground out hit by Josh Nethaway.

            The Great Danes then posted three runs in the seventh to take a 6-3 advantage. Joe Ilacqua singled into center, scoring two runs, and advanced into scoring position on the throw to home. The third baseman then came home on a base hit by Mike Tirri to put UAlbany back on top. Maine got one run back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Mike Fransoso. The Black Bears then attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Lewis doubled into left, scoring Eric White. Fransoso followed with a triple to score Lewis and tied the game at 6-6. With the winning run 90-feet away, reliever Kevin Cowan struck out Justin Leisenheimer looking to work out of the jam and send the game into extra innings.

            Starter Zach Kraham went six innings on the mound for UAlbany, scattering six hits and issuing four strikeouts. Ryan White earned the win, fanning one in the 11th, while Matt Dybus got the save, coming in in the 12th. D.J. Voisine took the loss for Maine (15-21, AE 5-5), throwing the final three innings.

            UAlbany (14-20, AE 6-4) will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Manahattan in a non-conference game at 3 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany (14-20, AE 6-4) 200       010       300       001       -           7          10         0

Maine (15-21, AE 5-5)                100       200       102       000       -           6          12         1

            UAlbany: Zach Kraham, Greg Lutton (7), Kevin Cowan (9), Austin Chase (10), Ryan White (11), Matt Dybus (12) and D.J. Hoagboon and Josh Nethaway.

            Maine: A.J. Bazdanes, Jonathan Balentina (5), Shaun Coughlin (8), D.J. Voisine (10) and Fran Whitten.

UAlbany 7, Maine 6 (12 inn.) (Apr 25, 2011)

Score by Innings                        R  H  E
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Albany.............. 200 010 300 001 -  7 10  0
University of Maine. 100 200 102 000 -  6 12  1
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