Waterville, ME – The Owls baseball team started their North Atlantic Conference run with their first doubleheader of the season vs Thomas College. A rally in the seventh was not enough in the first game (7-innings), losing 6-3. The nine inning second game was won by the Terriers with a late game run to give them a 6-5 lead.

Game 1 (6-3 – Terriers):

How it happened:

The Owls found themselves down early as they gave up four runs in the first inning off four hits including a two-run homer. With Steed Outler (Flower Mound, TX) on the mound for the Owls, their defense held the Terriers to only one hit the following four innings. Before giving the Terriers two more runs to give them a six-run lead. In the seventh inning the Owls took a run at the game in their last inning. With one out and a man on second Payton Jones (Green Cove Springs, FL) hit a double to right field to bring in the Owls first run of the game. Joey Lippo (Coupeville, WA) followed with a shot to center field resulting in an error on the Terriers bringing Jones home. The Owls were able to drive in another run with an RBI single by Timothy Burns (Green Cove Springs, FL), before getting their final out.

On the mound:

Outler (2-5) pitched the first five innings, giving up eight hits and six earned runs before Nathan Church (Dover Foxcroft, ME) relieved him in the sixth inning giving up no hits. Dylan Copeland (1-3) earned the win for the Terriers, pitching the complete game, giving up two earned.

At the plate:

Jones finished the game two for three including his RBI double. Bailey Corley (Lake Stevens, WA) also finished two for three. The Owls finished the game with eight hits and left seven on base. The Terriers finished the game with eight hits and walked once.

Game 2 (6-5 – Terriers):

How it happened:

This time the Owls took the early lead with two runs in the second inning. Kaiden Crowley (Jonesport, ME) pitching a no-hitter through the first three innings, until both team rallied in the fourth. The Owls started it off with a single by Ricky Goupille (Presque Isle, ME) and an RBI double but Burns brought in a run. A terrier error added the third run of the inning allowing Payton Jones to score. The Terriers answered in a big way, tying the game with a five-run fourth inning, scoring off three singles and a bases loaded walk. The Terriers added their final run of the game in the seventh off an error by the Owls. With just one hit in the final three innings, the Owls were unable to bring any runs late.

On the mound:

Crowley pitched the first five innings giving up five hits and walking three while allowing five earned runs. Ian McCray (1-3)(Coppell, TX) pitched the next two innings, walking one, giving up one hit and one earned run. The Terriers pitched five player, while Alex Avila (1-0) earned his first win and Andrew Pruell earned his first save.

At the plate:

The Owls had four players with two hits; Goupille, Logan MacDougall (Summerside, PEI), Timothy Burns (Green Cove Springs, FL) and Nathan Church (Dover Foxcroft, ME) also either scored a run or hit in a run to go along with their two hits. The Owls finished the game with ten hits as a team. Compared to the Terriers seven hits.

The Owls will continue their NAC doubleheader weekend vs Thomas on Sunday.