Mueller's 10th-Inning Triple Leads Baseball To Split At Maine
BOX ONE I BOX TWO
ORONO, Maine – With one out in the top of the 10th in Sunday's nightcap, University at Albany sophomore Eric Mueller ripped a three-run triple down the left field line, breaking the stalemate and giving the Great Danes baseball team a 9-5 victory over the hosting University of Maine Black Bears. Maine (9-15, 1-2 America East) won the first game of the day, 4-3, splitting the America East Conference series. Due to expected weather, there will not be a series rubber match on Monday.
"Great bounce back win in the second game,” said Head Coach Jon Mueller. “We had clean defense, a solid start from Stephen Woods, and Joey Moore was a bear today -- a very good team win."
In game one, UAlbany (5-8, 1-1 America East) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, as Will Miller drew a leadoff walk, Trevor DeMerritt knocked a double down the right field line, and designated hitter Matt Hinchy followed with a two-run scoring single to left.
Maine cut the deficit to one, 2-1, in the bottom of the second using a leadoff walk and Kevin Stypulkowski's sacrifice fly to center.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Black Bears took the lead for good as a result of three hits, an error, and a sac fly.
Trailing 4-2, the Danes looked to rally in the eighth, sparked by Shawn Blake's leadoff single to left. With one out, Alex Lushkevich's infield single moved Blake to third, and he scored on Adam Mund's fielder's choice, making it a one-run game.
However, that would be as close as UAlbany would get, as Maine closer Charlie Butler faced the minimum in the ninth and picked up the save with a game-ending double play.
Middle reliever Justin Courtney (1-0) earned the win, allowing a run and four hits, while striking out three in 3.2 innings out of the pen. Starter Jake Marks threw the opening 4.1 frames, allowing two runs and five hits, while striking out four.
For UAlbany, reliever Terry Dugdale (0-1) was tagged for the loss, getting credited with three runs (two earned) and three hits, while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. Starter Brendan Ryan allowed just one run and five hits, while striking out four in the opening 5.2 frames. Andrew Jaurique held the Black Bears scoreless and to two hits, striking out one, in the final 1.2 innings.
While both squads totaled 10 hits apiece in the ballgame, the defense held the damage to a minimum, as a combined 29 runners were left stranded in the contest.
Offensively, Craig Lepre (3-for-5), DeMerritt (2-for-5), and Lushkevich (2-for-4) piloted the Danes with multi-hit performances.
In the slated seven-inning nightcap, UAlbany jumped out to a quick lead again, scoring three runs in the top of the first. With two outs, DeMerritt and Hinchy lined consecutive singles to right, and Blake and Mueller ripped back-to-back doubles to right-center to give the Danes an early cushion.
While Maine answered with one run in the bottom of the frame, UAlbany tacked on two more in the third for a 5-1 advantage. With the bases loaded and two outs, Mund tagged reliever Logan Fullmer for a two-run double down the left field line.
However, that would be UAlbany's last hit until the 10th inning, as Fullmer sat the Danes down in order for the next five frames.
In the fifth, the Black Bears batted through the order to score three runs, taking advantage of four of UAlbany's 16 walks in the game. Scott Heath's two-run home run and a pair of RBI doubles cut the margin to one, 5-4.
With two outs in the sixth, a pair of walks set up Stypulkowski's RBI double to right-center, tying the ballgame, 5-5. UAlbany's relay from right field to home prevented Maine from taking the lead, ending the side with a play at the plate.
Both Joey Moore for UAlbany and Fullmer for Maine tossed a perfect seventh, sending the squads into extra innings. The Black Bears reached base in each the eighth, ninth, and 10th frames, but the Danes' defense held the hosts at bay, as Maine left 14 runners on base in the game.
In the 10th, UAlbany finally got things going again as Lepre led off with a single to left and DeMerritt reached on a bunt single. Hinchy moved both runners into scoring position with a sac bunt, and with the bases loaded after Maine intentionally walked Blake, Mueller belted a bases-clearing triple down the left field line. With one out, junior Karson Canaday plated Mueller with a groundout to third, capping the four-run inning and giving the Danes a 9-5 advantage.
Moore held the Black Bears off in the 10th to pick up his first win of the season. Moore allowed just one run and four scattered hits, while striking out three in 5.1 innings of relief work. Starter Stephen Woods tossed the opening 4.1 innings, while Sam DeCelle made a brief appearance in the fifth.
For Maine, Butler (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs and three hits in the final two innings.
Again with 10 hits as a squad, Mueller led the Danes at the plate, going 2-for-5 with five RBIs and a run scored. DeMerritt (2-for-5) and Blake (2-for-4) also recorded multiple hits.
Weather permitting, the Great Danes will play its first home game of the season Tuesday, hosting Fordham at 3 p.m. at Varsity Field.
