ORONO, Maine — Bates College sophomore righthander Karl Alexander had the University of Maine baseball team off-balance as he masterfully mixed up his fastball, curve and change-up.
The only man he couldn’t solve was Taylor Lewis.
The lefthanded-hitting Lewis added to his school single-season record with his 10th and 11th triples and launched a two-out, bases-loaded double off reliever Mike Spinosa to lead the Black Bears to a 7-2 win over the Bobcats.
Lewis’ triples, one to left center and one down the right field line, drove in runs in the third and fifth innings to provide Maine with a 2-1 lead.
His three-run double to left center capped a five-run rally in the sixth inning.
All of Maine’s runs came with two outs.
“I knew they would be pitching me outside the whole game so I made that adjustment and tried to poke the ball the other way,” said Lewis, who upped his average to .409 with his 3-for-4 performance and increased his team-leading RBI total to 43.
“He’s a very good player,” said Bates coach Edwin Thompson.
“He always comes up big when we need him,” said Maine second baseman Michael Fransoso.
Lewis’ third-inning triple off the fence in left center broke a scoreless tie.
“[Alexander] threw me a fastball outside and I went with the pitch,” said Lewis.
Bates tied it in the fourth on Chris Burke’s ground single to left, Noah Lynd’s double off the fence in right center field and Gordy Webb’s RBI line drive single to right off reliever Keith Bilodeau, who had just replaced starter Myckie Lug-bauer.
But Lewis gave Maine the lead for good in the fifth as he pulled a triple to right to score Joe Mercurio, who had walked.
“[Alexander] tried coming in on me and I wound up turning on it,” said Lewis.
“It was an unfortunate pitch. It was in on the corner but he got out in front of it. He’s a good hitter,” said Alexander.
Alexander got the first two hitters in the sixth but he hit Matt Howard with a 1-1 pitch and Lugbauer ripped a sharp single just to the left of second baseman Noah Burke.
A wild pitch delivered Howard and Fransoso welcomed Spinosa with an RBI single.
Mercurio walked and Lewis hit his three-run double to left center that sliced away from center fielder Pat Murphy, who nearly made a diving catch.
“I was just hoping [it dropped in],” grinned Lewis.
Alexander allowed just five hits in 5ª innings. He was charged with five runs.
“I worked in different pitches and tried to change speeds and keep the ball low. And I tried to keep it on the corners,” said Alexander, who just returned after serving a 12-day suspension for violating team rules.
“Alexander was outstanding and Bates played excellent defense,” said Maine coach Steve Trimper.
Bilodeau notched the win in re-lief for the 20-16 Black Bears. Lug-bauer fanned six in 3¤ innings.
Former Bangor High star Webb doubled and singled for 14-8 Bates and Murphy singled twice.