LYNN, MA
The UMPI Owls Baseball team traveled south to begin their spring trip in Massachusetts with an away matchup against University of Maine at Augusta. The Owls did something that hadn't been done in 28 years and won their first game of the season. On April 2, 1997, UMPI defeated Emerson College 20-11. Saturday was the first time since then, they started their season off with a win. The Moose came back and won the second end of the doubleheader.
Game 1: (10-2 Owls)
How it Happened:
UMPI came out firing out the gate, with a very new-look lineup having graduated six regular starters out of their usual nine. The newcomers got off on the right foot, however. Hector Perez singled to left center and then the Owls were off to the races. Anthony Searels, last year's RBI team-leader singled to bring home Perez, giving the Owls an early lead. Aiden Toy hit a sacrifice fly to bring in a run, and then the very next batter, Ian Michaud hit a line drive just out of reach of an outfielder, and he'd circle the bases for an inside the park home run. Before UMA had recorded three outs, the Owls were up 5-0. The Owls added two more in the second and third innings to jump out 9-0. Things would settle down from there, but the damage was done. UMPI coasted to the 10-2, historic victory.
At the Plate:
Freshman Sam Bay led the charge with three hits, including a double in the third. With a first-inning walk, he reached base four times. Anthony Searels went 2-3, while Hector Perez went 2-4 out of the lead-off spot. Ian Michaud had the aforementioned in-the-yard home run, Gabriel Wheeler had a triple, and Aiden Toy had a double. All-in-all the Owls hit very well for their first time out, finishing the day with ten hits as a team.
On the Mound:
Jonah Baude, last year's game one starter, was dominant on the hill for UMPI. He threw the distance. Baude finished the day allowing just one earned run throughout the seven innings of work. He struck out three hitters, and notably, didn't walk a single one as he filled up the zone early and throughout.
Game 2: (6-1 Moose)
How it Happened:
For as sharp as the Owls bats looked at the beginning of the first game, they were the opposite to start the second game. They went down in order in the first inning and left two runners on in the second. This became a theme as UMPI couldn't seem to string them together as they made more solid contact later in the game. The Owls plated their one and only run in the 5th inning, playing small-ball and capitalizing on a drop-third strike. UMA scored one in the second and two in the third to build a lead. They'd eventually deliver the knockout blow in the sixth, when three runs came across. Ultimately, they'd split the day, winning game two by a score of 6-1.
At the Plate:
The Owls went quietly in this one at the plate with three hits. Ricky Garcia had one in the 3rd inning, Aiden Toy had one in the 4th, and Gabe Wheeler had one in the 7th. All three hits were singles.
On the Mound:
Spencer Harman was the Owls premier arm last season, pitching UMPI to two wins in complete game efforts a season ago. In his first start of his senior season, he looked sharp. Harman kept the Owls in it throughout almost all of his outing. He went all six innings, recording a career high eight strikeouts in the process. He finished the day allowing three earned runs on 11 hits.
Next Up:
UMPI starts their season 1-1 with the doubleheader split. They will get right back at it tomorrow when they pay a visit to the Bronx, New York to take on Lehman College. The doubleheader begins at noon.
