ORONO – With the America East tournament nine days away, University of Maine baseball coach Steve Trimper continues to search for stability in his starting rotation.

Jose Mendoza served notice again Monday that he is ready to contribute when called upon.

The freshman lefthander worked eight strong innings and the Black Bears played errorless defense behind him in an 11-3 conference victory over Hartford at Mahaney Diamond.

Mendoza (2-1), from Miami, scattered 10 hits while striking out four, walking two and hitting a batter in his longest collegiate outing so far.

“I felt good,” said Mendoza, who induced 14 fly-ball outs. “Today I really had everybody working [behind me]. Good defense did it.”

UMaine (30-17-1, 11-7 AE) took three of four from the Hawks and remains in contention to host next week’s America East tourney. The Bears must beat Vermont three times later this week in Burlington to have a shot at hosting.

However, Albany (10-8) also must lose at least one game in its series at Binghamton (10-8).

“It feels good to be able to control our own destiny,” said Bears senior Ryan Quintal. “We want to go over there [Vermont], win three out of four, then come back here.”

Mendoza wasn’t overpowering, but was backed by outstanding defense. He mixed a two-seam fastball and a slider to keep the Hawks off-balance. Hartford (11-38, 8-16 AE) reached Mendoza for 10 hits, including five doubles, but couldn’t bunch hits together.

“He threw strikes. The thing about it is, he puts the ball in play,” said Trimper, who Saturday earned his 200th career coaching victory.

“He moves the ball around, so it’s tough to hit Jose back-to-back-to-back, because he’s not a straight pitcher,” he added.

Hartford starter Adam Flaherty (0-7) didn’t receive the same support as the Hawks made five errors.

Sophomore Curt Smith was among the catalysts for UMaine. He stroked an RBI double in the first inning, singled and scored in the fifth, then laced an RBI triple to right-center in the sixth.

The triple was his sixth of the season and helped the Bears set a school single-season record with their 24th.

“Last week we took everything for granted that we were in the playoffs already. We didn’t play hard,” Smith said.

“We’re looking forward to going to Vermont and win the series so we can host the tournament here,” he said.

Freshman Billy Cather, who returned to the lineup over the weekend after missing two weeks with a wrist injury, singled twice, stole two bases and hit a sacrifice fly.

The Bears collected 11 hits, including an RBI single by Quintal, who also hit a sacrifice fly. Joe Hough hit a run-scoring double.

Frank Cipolla posted two RBI singles to lead Hartford. Adam Bowser doubled twice.

Leading 3-2, the Bears broke the game open with a five-run fifth.

BLACK BEARS 11, HAWKS 3

Hartford (11-38) Maine (30-17-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Stouffer, ss 4 1 2 0 Hough, cf 4 1 1

Cipolla, 2b 3 0 2 2 McGraw, dh 4 1 0

Perry, 3b 5 0 0 0 Barrett, 1b 4 2 0

Crowley, c 3 0 1 0 Quintal, lf 4 2 2

Hebert, c 1 0 1 0 Smith, ss 4 2 2

Price, rf 4 0 1 0 McAvoy, 3b 3 1 1

Sobocinski, cf 4 1 1 0 Hackett, 3b 1 0

Propst, dh 4 0 1 1 Cather, rf 4 1 1

Grossman, 1b 2 0 0 0 Menendez, 2b 2 1 1

Morticelli, ph-1b 1 0 0 0 Parker, c 4 1

Bowser, lf 3 1 2 0

Litke, ph 1 0 1 0

Dorman, pr 0 0 0 0

Totals 35 3 12 3 Totals 34 11 11 9

Hartford 101 000 010 – 3

Maine 210 053 00x – 11

E-Stouffer (25), Cipolla (8), Perry (15), Crowley (3), Price (6); LOB-Hartford 9, Maine 8; 2B-Stouffer, Sobocinski, Propst, Bowser 2, Litke; Hough, Smith, Menendez; 3B-Smith; DP-Hackett-Menendez-Barrett, Smith-Menendez-Barrett; S-Stouffer; Menendez; SF-Quintal, Cather; SB-Stouffer (16); Hough 2 (20), Cather 2 (12), Menendez (9)

Hartford IP H R ER BB SO

Flaherty (L, 0-7) 4 2/3 6 8 4 5 3

Bloch 1 1/3 4 3 3 0 0

Coury 2 1 0 0 1 1

Maine IP H R ER BB SO

Mendoza (W, 2-1) 8 10 3 3 2 4

Zyskowski 1 2 0 0 0 1

HBP-Cipolla (by Mendoza); WP-Flaherty 2; PB-Parker; T-2:38; ATT-1:36