BOCA RATON, Fla. – Troy Martin came into the 2006 season feeling some extra weight on his shoulders.

With classmate Greg Norton not ready to pitch because of September shoulder surgery and newcomer Mike Powers also sidelined with an injury, there was pressure on the University of Maine’s senior righthander to set the tone for the starting rotation.

Martin refocused and relaxed a bit Friday night as his Black Bear teammates backed him with 14 runs on 16 hits en route to a 14-2 victory over Pennsylvania at the Florida Atlantic University field.

Martin (1-2) scattered four hits through eight innings, inducing 14 ground-ball outs, in a performance reminiscent of his 2005 efforts for UMaine.

“In the first two games I was pressing, I was trying too hard,” said Martin, who threw 88 pitches. “I put all the pressure on myself and we talked about that. Coach [Steve Trimper] told me to just go out and throw my game and just have the defense behind you.”

Martin struck out two and walked only one, featuring a good slider, a lively four-seam fastball and several good changeups.

“He needed that,” Trimper said. “I think he’s been pressing a little bit, trying to be too perfect in his other two outings, and he went out and did what we asked him to do, which was throw strikes and work ahead [in the count].”

Sophomore shortstop Curt Smith went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and four runs scored to spark the Bears (4-5), who won for the fourth time in five games. UMaine returns to FAU today for a 2:30 p.m. game against the Quakers (0-7).

“All I try to do is make contact with the ball and see what happens,” said Smith, who pounded the ball all night. He seems to enjoy the warmer temperatures.

“I feel like [I’m] at home in this weather,” said the native of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. “It’s hot. I love it.”

The Bears spread out their hits, but Brewer freshman Kevin McAvoy continued his torrid streak, knocking in three runs with a double and a single, Danny Menendez posted two singles and two RBIs and Joe Hough hit two singles (1 RBI). Bobby Brown also added two singles.

UMaine had some early struggles against Penn starter Steven Schwartz, but discovered some tendencies and made important adjustments that enabled them to hit him hard.

“That kid they started was pretty good,” Trimper said. “He came out and struck us out and was really throwing his slider.”

However, the Bears realized Schwartz went to a hard slide-step with runners on base, which affected his location.

“He started to leave his fastball and his curveball up because he was trying to be so quick with his lower body,” Trimper said. “We got a guy on base, he started getting some pitches up, and we didn’t take those pitches, we started ripping them.”

Josh Corn singled twice for Penn.

Will Carroll of Boothbay, who missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery, pitched a scoreless ninth for the Bears.

The Bears came up with some clutch hits, exhibited aggressive baserunning and capitalized on two errors while breaking loose for five runs in the fourth inning.

Smith ignited the rally, roping a one-out double to left-center, and Bobby Brown walked. Frank Pesanello cashed in, lashing a 2-0 pitch to right field for a three-run home run.

BLACK BEARS 14, QUAKERS 2

Maine (4-5) Penn (0-7)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Hough, cf 5 1 2 2 Boaen, cf 4 0 0

Cather, lf 6 0 1 2 Farrell, 3b 4 0 0

Barrett, 1b 5 1 1 0 Corn, c 4 0 2 0

Quintal, dh 5 1 0 0 Console, dh 4 1 0

Smith, ss 5 4 4 1 Armeny, lf 3 1 2

Rivera, ss 1 0 0 0 Moses, rf 2 0 0

Brown, rf 3 3 2 1 Brown, rf 2 0 0

Ostrander, rf 1 0 0 0 Nwaka, ss 2 0

Pesanello, c 4 2 1 3 Grimes, ss 2 0 0

McAvoy, 3b 3 1 2 4 Abate, 1b 2 0 0

Hackett, 3b 1 0 1 0 May, 1b 1 0 0 0

Menendez, 2b 4 1 1 0 Hino, 2b 2 0 0

Totals 43 14 15 13 Totals 32 2 5 2

Maine 000 526 100 – 14

Penn 000 200 000 – 2

E-Smith; Armeny, Nwaka 3; LOB-Maine 10; Penn 5; 2B-Barrett, Smith, McAvoy 2; HR-Pesanello (2); Armeny; DP-Penn; SB-Hough, Smith

Maine IP H R ER BB SO

Martin 8 4 2 2 1 2

Carroll 1 1 0 0 0 2

Penn IP H R ER BB SO

Schwartz 5 1/3 11 11 11 4 6

Yoo 1 2/3 4 3 2 3 2

Wilamowski 1 0 0 0 1 1

Brown 1 0 0 0 0 1

HBP-Armeny (Carroll); T-2:38; ATT-75