Ryan Throws Complete Game in Doubleheader Split

BOX SCORE GAME 1 I GAME 2

ALBANY, N.Y.— With the sun peaking in and out of the clouds along with a little bit of wind, the University at Albany baseball team (18-23, 6-10) split today's doubleheader with the Maine Black Bears (17-28, 6-10); 7-1, 5-2.

“It was a hard fought split today,” said UAlbany head coach Jon Mueller “Brendan Ryan was absolutely dominating in that first game.”

In the bottom of the second inning, Joey Tracy hit a sacrifice fly to center with the bases loaded, which allowed Matt Hinchy to tag up at third and give the Danes a 1-0 lead.

The Danes exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth, when Todd hit a single into shallow center to score Kyle Sacks from second and the next play Connor Powers hit a double down the right field line that scored Hinchy and Todd. Powers scored off a second sacrifice fly from Tracy, to put UAlbany up 5-1.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Powers hit his third RBI of the game, with a double down the left field line to bring home Todd, and advanced to third on a throwing error from the left fielder. Karson Canaday picked up his second hit with a single to center field, to score Powers and gave the Danes a 7-0 lead.

Brendan Ryan (5-2) threw a complete 9.0 inning game and allowed one earned run on seven hits and had four strikeouts in the win.

“I thought I did good, I struggled a little bit early, but I settled down nice and I was able to execute my pitches that coach was calling for me.” added Ryan

In game two, trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Will Miller picked up his first hit of the afternoon with a single into center field, which was followed by a throwing error by Maine's shortstop to bring Miller to third and Kevin Donati safe at first.

Sacks brought Miller home the next play with a single through the right side, and then Donati scored one batter later, thanks to Hinchy's single to short.

Stephen Woods (3-5) earned the loss going 5.0 innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits and struck out five. Freshman Derek Balbierz pitched 2.0 shutout innings in relief allowing just one hit.

The Danes and the Black Bears return to Varsity Field for a rubber-match starting at 1 p.m. Ryan Stinar of UAlbany will face off against Maine's Chris Murphy in the series finale.