BRISTOL, Conn. – It was a midseason game with late-season pressure Monday for the University of Maine baseball team.

With its proven pitching thin and its position in the America East standings in jeopardy, the Black Bears demonstrated their resolve.

Troy Martin pitched six strong innings and Scott Robinson closed out the last three as UMaine earned a 6-3 victory over Hartford at windy, chilly Muzzy Field.

Coach Paul Kostacopoulos’ Bears improved to 22-11 overall, 6-3 in conference, and share second place in the league.

“This game was huge,” said junior Ryan Quintal. “We knew we had to come out and play a good, solid game.”

After throwing 38 pitches in a relief win in Sunday’s opener, UMaine gave the ball to Martin (5-2) again Monday. The junior righthander allowed eight hits and one run, striking out four without issuing a walk.

“It’s a good thing my arm just hung in with me,” Martin said. “I like getting the ball, especially in pressure situations. It was a little bit difficult toward the end because my arm kind of tightened up a little bit.”

Robinson, who pitched three innings in Friday’s win over Boston College and a third of an inning Sunday, held Hartford (5-16, 2-7 AE) to two runs while earning his fifth save.

“They knew we were tight for pitching. They had easy excuses today not to have good games and nobody would have thought lesser of them [if they had], and they went out and did a fabulous job,” Kostacopoulos said of his pitchers.

UMaine, which committed five errors in Sunday’s first game, played outstanding defense Monday. The Bears turned two double plays and cut down a runner at the plate trying to score from first base.

Regular catcher Aaron Izaryk started at second base and made a heady play to initiate one double play and made the relay on another. Shortstop Steve Gambale handled five chances cleanly and nailed a runner at the plate on a relay throw.

“We didn’t make our pitchers labor by kicking the ball around, not turning double plays,” Kostacopoulos said. “We really needed that today because Troy and Scott were really up against it.”

The Bears hit the ball hard, but only managed seven hits against a suspect quartet of Hartford pitchers. Even so, they produced enough runs to get the job done.

Quintal led the way with a solo home run and a single, while Joel Barrett doubled and singled. Greg Creek also drilled a solo homer.

UMaine scored twice in the second on a dropped fly ball, two walks, Gambale’s RBI groundout and a Joe Hough sacrifice fly.

The Bears added one in the third off loser Adam Flaherty (1-4) on Quintal’s leadoff single, a double off the left-field wall by Joel Barrett and Izaryk’s RBI groundout.

Hartford threatened in the fourth when Ryan Cuscovitch singled and tried to score on Frank Cipolla’s double to center. He was gunned down 8-6-2. Steve Moyer reached on an infield single, but Josh Topp grounded out to end the inning.

BLACK BEARS 6, HAWKS 3

Maine (22-11) Hartford (5-16)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Hough, cf 4 0 0 1 Bowser, 3b 3 0 2

Creek, dh 5 1 1 1 Perry, ss 4 0 0

Quintal, lf 5 2 2 1 Cuscovitch, 1b 4 1 1

Barrett, 1b 4 0 2 0 Crowley, c 4 0 0

Smith, 3b 4 1 0 0 Cipolla, dh 3 0 0

Izaryk, 2b 4 1 0 1 Trahan, 3b 1 0 0

McGraw, c 2 1 0 0 Moyer, rf 4 0 0

Cantara, rf 2 0 1 0 Topp, lf 4 0 0

Ostrander, pr 0 0 0 0 Price, 2b 3 0

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

O’Neill, cf-p 4 0 1 0

Totals 34 6 7 6 Totals 35 3 12 3

Maine 021 010 110 – 6

Hartford 000 010 110 – 3

E-Perry (11), Topp (1); LOB-Maine 9, Hartford 6; 2B-Barrett; Cipolla, Rice, O’Neill; HR-Creek (5), Quintal (5); Cuscovitch (4); DP-Gambale-Izaryk-Barrett, Izaryk-Gambale-Barrett; S-McGraw; SF-Hough; SB-Smith (10)

Maine IP H R ER BB SO

Martin (W, 5-2) 6 8 1 1 0 4

Robinson (S, 5) 3 4 2 2 0 2

Hartford IP H R ER BB SO

Flaherty (L, 1-4) 6 4 4 2 2 3

Morticelli 1 1 1 1 0 1

Price 1 1 1 1 3 1

O’Neill 1 1 0 0 0 0

HBP-Barrett by Flaherty; T-2:25; ATT-32