Bearcats blank UMaine Teams in split of league series

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VESTAL, N.Y. – Mike Van Gorder and Jeff Dennis combined on a seven-hit shutout Sunday as Binghamton University salvaged a split of its four-game America East baseball series against UMaine with a 5-0 victory at Varsity Field.

The teams split Saturday, with the Black Bears taking the opener 3-1 and the Bearcats winning the nightcap 4-1. Maine won Friday night’s game 4-0.

In Sunday’s game, Binghamton scored once in the first inning off loser Nolan Boike (3-2) and didn’t need any more runs.

Freshman A.J. Balsinde kept the Bears (26-13-1, 7-3 AE) close, pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief before allowing two runs in the seventh. UMaine could muster only seven hits and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Ryan Quintal’s double was the only extra-base hit for UMaine.

Brendon Hitchcock singled twice with an RBI and Kyle Klee had a two-run double in the seventh for the Bearcats.

In the first inning, Justin Smucker led off with a single and later scored on Hitchcock’s single.

Balsinde came on after Boike issued back-to-back walks with one out in the second inning. He allowed only three hits and two runs, striking out three and walking one, in 5 1/3 innings.

In Saturday’s opener, freshman Mike Powers of Portland pitched a six-hitter to lead the Bears to victory.

The righthander struck out four and issued one intentional walk in registering his first collegiate complete game. He carried a shutout into the sixth inning, when the hosts scored an unearned run.

UMaine snapped a 1-1 deadlock in the seventh. Quintal doubled to left and advanced on Curt Smith’s infield single. After Smith stole second, freshman Kevin McAvoy of Brewer stroked a two-run single to center field.

McAvoy also added a single for the Bears, who managed only five hits but handed Binghamton ace Zach Groh (4-1) his first loss of the season.

Hitchcock singled twice for the Bearcats.

The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Danny Menendez sacrifice fly.

Binghamton tied it in the sixth when Aaron Davis and Matt Simek hit consecutive singles, then advanced on an error by Smith. Hitchcock was walked intentionally and Powers struck out Jeff Monaco, but Jeff Wertepny singled to right to score Davis.

In Saturday’s second game, walks and a costly error helped fuel a three-run fifth-inning rally that gave Binghamton the upper hand.

Jarrod Rampey and Adam Shatkun (1-1) combined to limit the Bears to seven hits while striking out seven.

Joel Barrett of Brewer paced UMaine with a double and a single.

The Bearcats turned a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 lead in the fifth. Smucker led off with a single and took second on a passed ball. UMaine starter Josh Zyskowski (2-1) was lifted after walking Davis.

Simek laid down a sacrifice bunt and reliever Troy Martin made an errant throw to first, allowing two runs to score. Hitchcock walked and Simek stole third before Monaco made it 4-1 with a sacrifice fly.

UMaine scored its only run in the fourth when Barrett hit a leadoff double and eventually scored on McAvoy’s single.

The Bears then loaded the bases, only to strand the runners when Rampey struck out Bobby Brown and Sean Parker.

Binghamton responded with the tying run in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Werterpny singled and Haughie doubled. Ken Jacobi pushed the run across with a groundout.

(Saturday’s First Game)

Maine 010 000 2 – 3 5 2

Binghamton 000 001 0 – 1 6 1

Powers and Parker; Groh and Haughie

(Saturday’s Second Game)

Maine 000 100 0 – 1 7 3

Binghamton 000 130 x – 4 7 2

Zyskowski, Martin (5) and Parker; Rampey, Shatkun (5) and Haughie

(Sunday’s Game)

Maine (26-13-1) 000 000 000 – 0 7 1

Binghamton (21-16-1) 100 000 220 – 5 8 1

Boike, Balsinde (2), Martin (7) and Parker; Van Gorder, Dennis (6) and Haughie