The University of Maine baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader with NJIT on April 18, securing their third consecutive series victory in conference play.
The outcome highlights the team’s ongoing performance as they continue their season. Winning two out of three series can help boost morale and standings for the Black Bears.
In the first game, which lasted seven innings, Maine fell to NJIT by a score of 6-3. Jack Quigley put Maine on the scoreboard with an RBI groundout in the second inning. Later in the seventh, Troy Carpenter drove in Nolan DeAndrade with a single to center field, and Hunter St. Denis added an RBI single to right field that brought home Carpenter. On the mound, Gianni Gambardella took the loss after pitching five and one-third innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits with two walks and one strikeout. Owen Wheeler finished out the game for Maine without allowing any baserunners and recorded one strikeout.
In game two, Maine rebounded for a 4-2 win over NJIT. Nic Pepe opened scoring for Maine with a two-run home run in the second inning—his third homer of the season—with Brody Rasmussen also scoring on that play. Shane Andrus followed up in the fourth inning with his own solo home run to left field, also his third this year. Jack Quigley capped off scoring for Maine by hitting his first collegiate home run—a solo shot—in the eighth inning.
Vaun Larisa picked up his first win of the season as he allowed just two runs on six hits across several innings without walking any batters while striking out four. Brennan Rumpf earned his first save by pitching three shutout innings in relief, giving up only two hits and one walk while striking out four batters.
Looking ahead, Maine (now holding an 11-24 record) will travel to Boston College for a midweek matchup scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 at 3 PM.
