PRESQUE ISLE, ME

In the first of two home doubleheaders to wrap up the year, the Owls got off to a rocky start on what was their senior day. This was encapsulated when Thomas scored 13 runs in one inning of the first game. But in the second game everyone saw a completely different story with the Owls going toe-to-toe with the Terriers in every aspect, eventually pulling of a stunning upset in game two.

Game 1: (21-9 Terriers)

How it Happened: Is the score may suggest, this one got out of hand, though things didn't begin like that. The first two full-innings were scoreless. The Terriers did capitalize with two outs in the top of the 3^rd, as they scored four times in a two-out rally on four hits to take the lead. The Terriers set down the Owls in order for the third straight inning to start the game before coming up to begin the 4^th.

This inning became the one that seemingly didn't have an end in sight for UMPI as they just couldn't buy an out. Beginning with a home run by lead-off batter Hayden Dippner, Thomas capitalized on some of UMPI's mistakes from there. UMPI committed three costly errors in the frame as well as some walks, and wild pitches helped Thomas to score 13 runs on just five hits, none bigger than Sam Keblinksy's three-run homer that made it 17-0. The Owls used four pitchers in the inning to get the game past the nightmarish frame.

UMPI didn't roll over though, as they got their first base runner in the bottom of the 4^th, and would get a lot more than that, scoring four times in the inning to make it 17-4, thanks to a couple big doubles, one from Gabriel Wheeler which scored two, and one from Michael Langley which also scored two and nearly cleared the bases.

Thomas scored three in the 5^th, and one more in the 6^th to get to 21 runs, before UMPI fired off another big inning to finish out the game in the bottom of the 7^th. It only took one hit in that 7^th inning to score five times thanks to some walks and an error, but Hector Perez cleared the bases with a double in the right centerfield gap.

At the Plate:

Hector Perez and Anthony Searels both went 2-4 to lead the offensive attack for the Owls who finished the game with six hits. Perez had three RBI on the aforementioned double. Gabriel Wheeler and Mike Langley also had two-RBI doubles to their name.

On the Mound:

It took a village to get through this one which is a credit to Thomas' offense. Mason Long started the game and blanked the Terriers through the first two innings before running into trouble in the 3^rd and 4^th innings. He finished with 3.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. Ricky Garcia threw 1.1 innings in just his second ever outing, but second in a row vs. the Terriers. He allowed two earned runs while recording his first career strikeout. Anthony Searles finished the game and looked mighty good through his two innings pitched. He allowed one earned, and struck out a batter but didn't walk anyone in his nine batters faced.

Game 2: (6-5 Owls)

How it Happened:

In what was the game of the day in the North Atlantic Conference this game seemed to have a little bit of everything. It was an unbelievable team effort for the Owls from the very jump. Much like game one, both teams went scoreless through the first two innings. But instead of Thomas doing damage in the 3^rd, it was UMPI's turn to get on the board first. It started with a Mason Long rip-shot double down the left field line followed by a beautiful Sam Bay bunt single to move Long over. Hector Perez made it three hits in a row with a backside base hit allowing Long to score while Bay went first to third. With a lot of speed on the bases, Perez moved to second to really apply the pressure and put two in scoring position with nobody out.

That brought up Garrett Chadwick who had an opportunity to help his own cause. He delivered for the Owls with a single down the right field line, Bay could walk home, while the speedy Perez also scored with ease making it 3-0 Owls.

Thomas got back at UMPI in the very next breath, however. Back to back singles to start the 4^th and a sacrifice moved runners to second and third with one down. An infield single deep in the hole scored one run, and then a big single from player-of-the-year candidate Elijah Morton made it a tie ball game.

The Owls stranded a pair in their half of the 4^th, and Thomas threatened again to start the 5^th. Sam Keblinksy delivered another big extra base hit for Thomas, doubling to left field to make it second and third with one down. A pinch hit single from Aaron Young gave the Terriers a 4-3 advantage. Then, with the bases loaded, a wacky infield play that saw first baseman Ian Michaud make a diving stop which looked like an inning-ending double play initially, was ruled to be just one out. This resulted in an RBI groundout while runners advanced. Garrett Chadwick was clutch however, striking out the very next batter to minimize it and keep it a 5-3 game.

The Owls rallied back, keeping the back-and-forth game pattern going. Garrett Chadwick reached on a wild-pitch strikeout, and later advanced to second on a passed ball. A huge walk on an excellent at bat from Gabriel Wheeler brought up Aiden Toy. Toy delivered a big single to right-center, scoring Chadwick. Toy later got picked off on a close play at second base, but Wheeler scored from third anyway on a ball that kicked away from the catcher. UMPI had manufactured two runs and tied the game up.

Chadwick made quick work in the 6^th, with a 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the 6^th, Spencer Harman reached first on an error to start the inning. Mason Long laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Sam Bay reached on an error making it first and second with two outs bringing up Hector Perez. Perez, who had been clutch already for the Owls this season, came up in another big spot, and once again delivered with a double right down the left field line, bringing in Spencer Harman.  

The Terriers intentionally walked Chadwick and worked out of the jam impressively, but the damage was done. UMPI led 6-5 going into the top of the 7^th with a chance to win it.

Chadwick got the first batter retired before an infield hit got the tying run aboard. But Chadwick wasn't fazed. The runner stayed right there, and he struck out the next batter before getting the last hitter to fly out, as the Owls celebrated a shocking come-from-behind victory on senior day.

At the Plate:

Everybody got in on the action in the lineup in this one it seemed, as the Owls combined for 11 hits. Mason Long, Ian Michaud and Hector Perez all had two hits for UMPI, with Perez driving in two runs. Garrett Chadwick went 1-3 with two RBI, and Aiden Toy went 1-3 with the other RBI for UMPI. Perez and Long had the two extra base-hits for UMPI, both of them doubles.

On the Mound:

Garrett Chadwick continues to build his case as one of the best all-around players in the North Atlantic Conference, and if there were any doubts, he put those to bed quickly with his heroic effort on the bump for UMPI. He threw all seven innings, just a few days removed from his complete game, two-hitter at Farmington. Chadwick allowed five runs on ten hits, while tossing 105 pitches. He struck out five batters, all of them seemingly bigger than the last.

Next Up:

With this win, the Owls have now won the most wins as a program since 2016, as they improve to 7-18 overall. Also, they have now won the most conference games as a program since joining the NAC in 2018, finishing with a conference record of 4-14. The Owls have two more non-conference matchups with the Terriers to wrap-up what has been a memorable 2025 season.