Black Bears record two America East victories

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ALBANY, N.Y. – Steve Sayre hit a sacrifice fly and Dan DeGrazio posted an RBI single during a two-run sixth inning Sunday afternoon that lifted the University at Albany to an 8-6 America East baseball victory over UMaine.

The Black Bears, who had their six-game winning streak snapped, had swept Saturday’s doubleheader by scores of 5-2 and 3-2. UMaine is 15-9 overall, 2-1 in conference play.

In Sunday’s game, UMaine piled up 11 hits but stranded 14 baserunners in the loss.

Joel Barrett of Brewer led the Bears with a two-run home run in the sixth inning and a run-scoring single in the seventh. Ryan Quintal doubled twice with an RBI and Curt Smith singled twice.

Tom Hill led Albany (8-8, 1-2 AE) with a three-run triple in the sixth inning and added a single.

UMaine starter Greg Creek of Chelsea allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings and relievers Josh Zyskowski and Nolan Boike were unable to shut down the Great Danes.

Albany, which scored three runs in the third and sixth innings, left only four runners on base in the contest.

UMaine trailed 3-0 when it scored four times in the sixth off starter Ethan Vaiana.

Creek and Quintal rapped back-to-back doubles for the first run, then Barrett hit his two-run shot. Mike Ferriggi and Smith continued the rally with singles and a run score on an error by the shortstop.

The Danes countered with three in the bottom of the inning on Hill’s triple.

The Bears made it 6-5 in the seventh on Quintal’s double and Barrett’s RBI single, but Albany scored two more in the seventh, chasing Creek.

In Saturday’s opener, Scott Robinson and Troy Martin combined to pitch three innings of scoreless relief and the Bears tallied three runs in the final two innings.

After starter Steve Richard scattered eight hits and two runs over six innings, Martin pitched a scoreless seventh and Robinson blanked the hosts in the last two innings.

Ferriggi doubled, singled and knocked in two runs for the Bears, while Smith, Matt McGraw and Barrett posted two singles each.

UMaine scored the eventual winning run in the eighth off reliever Al Beaulieu. McGraw led off with a single, advanced on Ferriggi’s sacrifice bunt and took third on a groundout. Smith’s RBI single put the Bears ahead.

UMaine made it 2-1 in the fourth on Ferriggi’s two-run single, but Albany tied it in the fifth.

In Saturday’s second game, Robinson came on and induced a game-ending fielder’s choice grounder in the seventh as the Bears held on.

Justin Meagher had drawn a leadoff walk and taken second on Leo Corvino’s one-out single. Norton induced Joe Lamb to fly out, but hit Tony Vallone to load the bases, then walked pinch hitter Rich Northrup to force in a run.

Robinson got the final out.

Greg Norton (5-1) allowed only three hits and one earned run in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

Quintal doubled and singled for UMaine, which broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth on Creek’s two-run double to center.

The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the third on Ferriggi’s leadoff home run.

(Saturday’s First Game)

Maine 000 200 012 – 5 10 1

Albany 100 010 000 – 2 9 4

Richard, Martin (7), Robinson (8) and Izaryk; Thomas, Beaulieu (8), Fuda (9) and Hilll

(Saturday’s Second Game)

Maine 001 020 0 – 3 6 1

Albany 000 100 1 – 2 3 2

Norton, Robinson (7) and Izaryk; Suchowiecki and Estes

(Sunday’s Game)

Maine (15-9) 000 004 101 – 6 11 1

Albany (8-8) 003 003 20x – 8 9 3

Creek, Zyskowski (6), Boike (7) and Izaryk; Vaiana, Fuda (6), Dubiel (7), Beaulieu (7), Ryan (8) and Hill