PRESQUE ISLE, ME

The UMPI Owls Baseball team finished what has been a very memorable season on Sunday afternoon when they played Thomas College for two more games. It was their ninth and 10^th games over a six-day stretch that saw the team pick up three more wins. Unfortunately, on Sunday, the Owls narrowly fell short in another comeback bid in the first game before being shutout in the afternoon matinee.

Game 1: (6-5 Terriers)

How it Happened:

UMPI jumped out in front fresh off the high of upsetting Thomas the day before, thanks to an RBI double from Garrett Chadwick while Chadwick came around on a passed ball later in the inning. Thomas got one back the next inning on an RBI double. They put up a three spot to retake the lead 4-2 in the 3^rd thanks to a couple of home runs from the middle of their order.

The Owls got one back however, cutting the lead to 4-3 when Anthony Searels answered right back with a towering solo home run to right-center field for his second career bomb. In the 4^th, Thomas hit their third home run in two innings as catcher Jandre Rivera-Caraballo took UMPI starter Jonah Baude to deep centerfield making it 5-3.

The Owls minimize the damage as they turned it over to their bullpen with Michael Langley coming in on relief. The game stayed scoreless in the 5^th and 6^th innings before a very fun 7^th inning arrived.

In the Terrier half of the inning, a leadoff double followed by an error moved a runner to third base. An RBI groundout, and Thomas picked up a huge insurance run. The Owls would have to score three runs now to get back into.

Leading off the 7^th inning, centerfielder Hector Perez showed some serious pop, providing yet another big-fly—the game's 5^th home run as he went yard to left-center for his second round-tripper of the season. Now at 6-4, Garrett Chadwick reached on a hit by pitch the next at bat. An Anthony Searels single, and a fielder's choice put men at the corners with one out. Gabriel Wheeler was next up and legged out an infield single deep in the hole to shortstop which brought in Chadwick to make it 6-5.

Now with runners at first and second base, the Terriers turned a clutch game-ending double 6-4-3 to win the ball game and prevent a second straight UMPI comeback win.

At the Plate:

The Owls combined for seven hits and were led by Anthony Searels who went 2-3 with a home run. Garrett Chadwick went 1-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Hector Perez also went 1-3 with the aforementioned home run. Pitcher Spencer Harman hit safely for the second straight day as he earned the start at third base and hit a line drive through the six hole. Mason Long also continued his hot hitting, going 1-2. Gabriel Wheeler went 1-3 with a walk and a big RBI infield single.

On the Mound:

Jonah Baude got the start and threw three innings, allowing five runs and nine hits with a strikeout. He turned it over to Michael Langley who had his best outing out of the bullpen all year long. He threw four innings of three-hit ball, and didn't allow an earned run, but did get the loss with the sixth run coming across in the 7^th inning.

Game 2: (9-0 Terriers)

How it Happened:

Thomas threatened very early in the game as they loaded the bases in the first inning, but the Owls turned a big double play to end the threat and keep things scoreless. The Owls couldn't carry over the momentum however, going down in order in the 1^st. Starter Spencer Harman worked through the Terriers in order in the top of the 2^nd, but UMPI once again couldn't muster any offense of their own.

In the 3^rd, the Terriers got to Harman in one swing. A Grand Slam from Cam Haynes took it from 1-0, to 5-0 which blew the game open. Another perfect inning brought it to the 4^th when Thomas added two more runs on two hits. Garrett Chadwick gave UMPI their first hit in the bottom of the 4^th with a single through the left side, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the frame.

Thomas got two more in the 5^th, which ended the scoring for the rest of the ball game. In the bottom of the 7^th, Anthony Searels doubled for UMPI's second hit as he polished off career on a high note, with a 3-6 day hitting

At the Plate:

The Bats struggled in the final game of the season for UMPI with just two hits, one from Garrett Chadwick and one from Anthony Searels.

On the Mound:

Spencer Harman made his final collegiate start and looked masterful through two innings. After running into trouble in the 3^rd and 4^th, he exited a college diamond for the final time to an ovation. He'd finish 3.2 innings pitched, allowing six earned runs with a strikeout. Danielle Moser threw two solid innings of relief with no earned runs, and Sam Bay came in for the 7^th inning, slamming the door, going three-up, three-down.

Season Wrap-Up:

The Owls finish a very successful season when they were in rebuilding mode, going 7-20 overall which is their most wins, and best win-percentage since 2016. They also went 4-14 in conference which is the most league wins since joining the NAC in 2018. The Owls will graduate Spencer Harman, Kyle Nichols, and Anthony Searels, but will return a great core next season and look to improve on this year's successes.