FARMINGTON, ME

There are some games that just stand out when a baseball season is all over as being set apart from the rest. Today was one of those days. In home games that were moved south due to the field conditions in Presque Isle, the Diamond Owls got back in the win-column with an all time classic doubleheader with the University of Maine at Farmington. The Owls and Beavers have had their due battles in recent years, but this afternoon double-dip at Hippach field may have just taken the cake.

Game 1: (13-12 Beavers)

How it Happened:

As the final score suggests, there was a lot to unpack after this one finished. The Beavers batted first on their home field, plating two runs in the top of the first, as they began the game with three straight singles, loading the bases with nobody gone. UMPI starter Danielle Moser did well to minimize it and hold the Beavers to two. UMPI came out firing in their first at bats however, sending eight hitters to the plate as they scored four runs to take a 4-2 lead.

In the 2^nd, UMF tied the game back up to make it 4-4, before UMPI jumped on it again, scoring three more to go up 7-4 thanks to an Anthony Searels two-RBI double. The Owls brought two more across in the 3^rd, as Ian Michaud collected his second double of the game before Mason Long brought him in, followed by a Dylan Geren single to drive home Long. The Owls found themselves with a solid cushion, leading by five runs.

The 4th inning went scoreless, and then the Owls began to run into some serious trouble in the next frame. The Beavers were able to chase the Owls starter, as Mason Long came in on Long relief duty. Farmington rallied to score four runs on four hits, which made it a 9-8 game. The Owls were blanked in their half of the 5^th, and UMF poured more on in the 6^th to take a 12-9 lead.

The Owls got one back in the bottom of the 6^th as Ian Michaud was heard from again, picking up his third double of the afternoon, this one an RBI to bring in Aiden Toy who double to lead off the inning.

UMPI continued to apply pressure, blanking the Beavers in the 7^th and added one more run. Each team would tack on a run in the 8^th, bringing the game to the 9^th 13-12 in favor of Farmington. The Beavers went down in order for just the second time on the day. In the last of the 9^th, Ian Michaud collected his fifth hit of the contest with a backside single, but the Owls couldn't capitalize and move him around as the Beavers slammed the door, picking up the 13-12 victory in an outstanding slugfest as together, the teams combined for 36 hits.

At the Plate:

To say that the Owls broke out in this game, would be the understatement of the year, and no one broke out more than Ian Michaud, who went 5-6 at the plate. He had three doubles and two RBI to his incredible game one resume and becomes just the second player in the conference this year to achieve the mark, joining Ryan Lansing of Cobleskill. Both Hector Perez and Dylan Geren went 3-5 in the two and three spots of the order, Geren drove in two while Perez drove in one. Mason Long went 2-3 with an RBI while Aiden Toy went 2-5 with an RBI, rounding out the multi-hit heroes for the Owls. Altogether, the Owls had 18 hits, 7 of which were doubles as they drove the ball better than they have all season long.

On the Mound:

Danielle Moser got the start for the Owls, making her second start of the year. She pitched well into the 5^th inning, tossing 4.2. She finished with eight earned runs on 11 hits, and struck out a batter. Mason Long got the job done on both sides of the ball as he finished out the game relieving Moser in the 5^th. He went 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs, and picked up a strikeout as well.

Game 2: (7-6 Owls)

How it Happened:

Game two started off much like game one with both teams compressing the ball in the early innings. An Ike Wrigley home run led off the ball game for UMF, putting them up 1-0. That's all they'd get in the 1^st however, and the Owls got hot again early. Dylan Geren singled through the right side after lea-doff batter Sam Bay was plunked. The speedy bay went first-to-third putting men on the corners for Garrett Chadwick. He singled to tie it at one. Then brought up Anthony Searels who led the Owls with 3 RBI in game one. He collected two more as he doubled deep into the alley in left, to put UMPI up 3-1.

Farmington grabbed another in the 2^nd, while the Owls went down 1-2-3 for the first time all afternoon. Then the game entered cruise control as both starters started dealing. Spencer Harman got the ball for UMPI and did not disappoint blanking the Beavers in the 3^rd and 4^th innings to keep it 3-2 as the game approached the late innings.

In the 5^th, UMF capitalized on a couple defensive blunders to score a run and tie the game three runs apiece. UMPI didn't respond in the 5^th inning either. In the 6^th inning Harman got the first batter to ground out. A pinch hitter proved to work out for Coach Bessey of UMF as Colby Lewis singled. Harman got the next batter to fly out, and the base hit didn't seem all that noticeable. A walk brought up Nate Coombs with two outs. Coombs delivered the swing of day for UMF, as he homered to right-center for a two-out three-run bomb. The Beavers all of a sudden were on top 6-3.

Just when you thought the eventful day would wind down with a Farmington sweep, the Owls responded as they so often have in this 2025 season in games of this nature. Gabriel Wheeler started things off with a leadoff double. Ian Michaud continued to be a double machine as he drove in Wheeler making it 6-4. Aiden Toy singled to make it first and third with nobody out. After Toy stole second, a wild pitch brought in Michaud and put the tying run 90 feet away. In a huge spot, Mason Long delivered in the clutch with a base hit right up the middle to tie the game at six. Now the Owls had an opportunity to manufacture the go-ahead run if they could move Mason Long around. A bunt attempt by Sam Bay followed by an interference call on the same play, forced Long to stay at first with one out. An error on the next batter made that a moot point, followed by a fielders' choice brought Long to third base bringing up Garrett Chadwick.

With two outs, Chadwick just missed it as he skied a pop-up over to the left side, though it was no easy play as the third baseman appeared to have trouble with the sun and the spin of the ball and UMPI caught a huge break, allowing the go-ahead run to score. All-in all the eventful inning saw the Owls score four times on four hits and a couple errors.

UMPI led by a run, bring Spencer Harman out to the mound with a chance to toss his third complete game victory over the Beavers in the last two years. Harman did just that as he retired the Beavers in order in the 7^th for a dramatic come from behind, 7-6 conference victory, and the all-time doubleheader came to a conclusion as a split.

At the Plate:

UMPI bats stayed hot as they reached double digit hits again, this time with 10. Ian Michaud stayed scorching hot, going 2-3 with an RBI and another double—his fourth of the day. All-in-all he went 7-9 on the day, with four doubles and three RBI as his batting average and slugging percentage skyrocketed. Garrett Chadwick continued to sizzle as UMPI's most reliable bat with a season average of .389. He went 2-4 in game two with an RBI. Anthony Searles went 1-3 with a two-RBI double. Gabriel Wheeler picked up a double for UMPI as well. Four other hitters had a single, the game winning hit coming from Mason Long who also had one of the biggest days of his three-year career. Another key piece in the Owls win was the fact that they had zero strikeouts as well.

On the Mound:

This was Spencer Harman's day as he came up huge for his team. He threw all seven innings for UMPI, allowing 10 hits, and five earned runs. He struck out five batters and threw 115 pitches in the herculean effort. As previously stated, it was his third complete game win over UMF in his last three starts versus the Beavers.

Next Up:

These teams will duke it out again tomorrow to see if anyone can take the season series. They will both be conference matchups as well with the first game beginning at 12 p.m. The Owls now sit at 5-14 overall and 2-10 in conference play.