WINTER PARK, Fla. — The University of Maine baseball team came one pitch away from taking a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning of their 4-3 loss to Rollins College Tuesday.
But a hit batsman and a two-run double by Ryan Luker off 1-2 pitches with two outs in the eighth inning erased a 3-1 deficit and the Tars pushed across the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.
Maine coach Steve Trimper pointed to three missed opportunities that also proved costly.
The Black Bears had baserunners on second with one out in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings but failed to score.
“That was the deal-breaker,” said Trimper. “We went 0-for-6 with men in scoring position in those three innings.
“It was a good ballgame. They’re a good club. It would have been nice to get a win,” added Trimper.
Freshman righthander A.J. Bazdanes’ first collegiate start was an impressive one as he threw eight innings of seven-hit, three-run ball. He didn’t walk anybody and struck out three. He hit two batters and threw 101 pitches.
“He pitched real well. He threw three pitches for strikes: a hard fastball, curve and a cutter we gave him three weeks ago,” said Trimper. “I would have loved to have gone to the bullpen a batter or two earlier. But we’re thin in the bullpen right now. I don’t to beat our [bullpen] guys up.”
Freshman Keith Bilodeau pitched the ninth and absorbed the loss.
Bazdanes got the first two outs in the eighth before Taylor Ferguson double to right center.
Bryan Bennett was hit by a 1-2 pitch and Luker doubled to left center off another 1-2 pitch to drive home Ferguson and Bennett.
Bilodeau hit Jesse More to open the ninth and More stole second.
Eugene Martinez singled to left and advanced to second on an error before a walk loaded the bases and More scored the winning run on a Myckie Lugbauer passed ball.
Maine scored all of its runs in the second inning after two were out.
Kevin McAvoy walked and Jarrett Lukas singled to right.
Tony Patane singled home McAvoy before George Tager singled home Lukas.
Danny Menendez walked to load the bases and Patane scored on a wild pitch.
Rollins got one back in the bottom of the third on Steve Hiscock’s single, a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt and Ferguson’s RBI infield hit.
Ferguson, Luker and Hiscock had two hits apiece for the 14-6 Tars while freshman Ian Leisenheimer had a pair of hits for 7-6 Maine and is now 17-for-34 this season.
“He’s been pretty hot. He’s a pretty strong kid, physically, and he has good hands. The ball jumps off his bat,” said Trimper.
Both teams are now 2-1 in the annual Rollins Baseball Week Tournament.
Maine faces Georgetown University tonight at 6.