UMaine pitchers shut down BC Bears’ Norton, Robinson strong

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Sophomore righthanders Greg Norton and Scott Robinson combined on a four-hitter Tuesday night, setting the tone for the University of Maine’s 7-2 baseball victory over Boston College.

Coach Paul Kostacopoulos, whose Black Bears improved to 2-1 heading into today’s 2:30 p.m. game against Villanova, responded after a subpar outing on Sunday.

“We played so poorly in the loss to La Salle, but we really did a very good job of regrouping [Monday] against a team that was in the Top 40 and went out and got ourselves a win,” Kostacopoulos said. “It’s one of those things that you can really build off of.”

South Portland’s Norton pitched six innings of four-hit ball Monday, allowing only one earned run, while striking out four and walking two.

“Norton pitched great,” Kostacopoulos said.

“They were a really good hitting team and he had to have three good pitches. He couldn’t really hunker down with his fastball,” he added.

Robinson, who missed all of last season recovering from arm surgery, pitched three innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts and three walks.

“When you sit out a year, there’s always a little bit of doubt about how you’re going to feel and whether you’re going to have the stuff you had prior to the injury,” Kostacopoulos said. “His performance speaks for itself. I’m so happy for him.”

Sophomore outfielder Joe Hough paced the UMaine offense with a double, two singles and two RBIs. Junior shortstop Mike Ferriggi posted two singles, including a two-run hit in the eighth that gave the Bears some breathing room.

Drew Locke led the 2-4 Eagles, who were ranked 38th nationally in one preseason publication, with two singles and an RBI.

Trailing 1-0, UMaine tied it in the third inning. Ryan Quintal was hit by a pitch and later scored on a single by Hough.

The Bears took the lead for good with two in the fourth. Greg Creek of Chelsea singled and later scored on a passed ball, while Quintal singled and eventually came home on Hough’s single.

The Eagles tallied an unearned run in the fifth, but UMaine put the game away with four in the eighth.

UMaine center fielder Simon Williams of Portland was forced to leave the game after being hits on the elbow by a pitch in the eighth inning. He reportedly was experiencing considerable swelling.

Maine (2-1) 001 200 040 – 7 11 1

Boston College (2-4) 100 010 000 – 2 4 0

Norton, Robinson (7) and Izaryk; Shepard, Wlodarczyk (8), Gauthier (8) and Greer

Softball

Black Bears earn split

At Kissimmee, Fla., the University of Maine (2-2) split two games as it lost a five-inning game to Bethune Cookman, 8-0, but recovered to shut out Eastern Tennessee State 3-0.

In the first game, Maine junior Jenna Merchant took the loss and is now 0-1. Junior Jess Brady and junior Lauren Dulkis both singled..

In the second game, Maine sophomores Molly McKinney and Amy Kuhl had RBI singles and Brady stole two bases. Senior Cadace Jaegge picked up her second win of the season and sophomore Sarah Bennis took the save, coming in the top of the sixth inning.