Norton stifles Fordham Series vs. Clemson next for Black Bears

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -Greg Norton of South Portland pitched seven shutout innings Tuesday, leading the University of Maine baseball team to a 3-1 victory over Fordham at University Park.

Norton, a freshman righthander, spread out three hits while improving to 3-0 in his third collegiate appearance. He struck out six and walked one as the Black Bears improved to 9-3 while completing the Florida portion of their annual spring trip.

“In the last 14 innings, he hasn’t given up a run,” said UMaine coach Paul Kostacopoulos as the Bears rode the bus toward South Carolina and a three-game series against national power Clemson.

“Since the opening night, when he was just nervous as heck, he’s done a nice job,” Kostacopoulos said of the youngster who appears to have earned the No. 4 starting spot.

Troy Martin and Ryan Foley each pitched an inning in relief to help preserve the win.

UMaine managed only six hits against two Fordham pitchers, but the Bears’ three-run second inning proved enough support for Norton and Co.

Senior captain Jesse Carlton got the uprising started when he smacked a solo home run off lefthander Bryan Kelly with one out. Alain Picard drew a walk, Joe Hough beat out an infield single to third base and Mike Ferriggi singled to left to load the bases.

Freshman Jason Houser followed with a two-run single through the middle.

“We only got six hits and we bunched them all in one inning,” said Kostacopoulos, who admitted the Bears haven’t been real consistent with their offensive production.

UMaine’s fifth error in 12 games opened the door for 1-7 Fordham’s only run of the contest in the ninth inning.

Tim Short reached on a fielding error by Ferriggi at third base and moved up on Jeremy Bourgeois’ pinch-hit single to center. One out later, Steve Turano stroked a run-scoring single to left, then was thrown out trying to take second.

BLACK BEARS 3, RAMS 1

Fordham (1-7) Maine (9-3)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Suarez, 2b 5 0 1 0 Livulpi, cf 4 0 0

Volosin, cf 4 0 2 0 Gambale, ss 1 0 0

Boyle, 1b 3 0 0 0 Ouellette, 2b 4 0 0

Thomas, 3b 4 0 1 0 Izaryk, c 4 0 0

Smith, rf 4 0 2 0 Carlton, 1b 3 1 1

Short, lf 3 1 1 0 Picard, dh 3 1 0

Ford, dh 3 0 0 0 Hough, rf-lf 4 1 0

b-Bourgeois 1 0 1 0 Ferriggi, 3b 3 0 0

c-Kaible 0 0 0 0 Houser, lf 2 0 2

Cosenza, c 3 0 0 0 Young, rf 1 0 0

Halleran, ss 2 0 0 0

a-Gwozdz 1 0 0 0

Turano, ss 1 0 1 1

Totals 34 1 9 1 Totals 29 3 6 3

a-struck out for Halleran in the 7th; b-singled for Ford in the 9th; c-ran for Bourgeois in the 9th

Fordham 000 000 001 ? 1 9 0

Maine 030 000 00x ? 3 6 1

E?Ferriggi (2); LOB?Fordham 9, Maine 7; 2B?Suarez, Volosin, Smith; HR?Carlton (3); DP?Suarez-Halleran-Boyle; Gambale-Carlton; S?Short; SB?Volosin, Thomas, Short; Livulpi (2)

Fordham IP H R ER BB SO

Kelly (L,0-2) 6 1/3 6 3 3 5 2

Rodriguez 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 2

Maine IP H R ER BB SO

Norton (W,3-0) 7 6 0 0 1 6

Martin 1 1 0 0 1 0

Foley 1 2 1 0 0 0

WP?Rodriguez; PB?Izaryk; T?2:31; ATT?76