Brett Chappell knocked in five runs with four hits on Friday, sparking the University of Maine baseball team to two victories at Chain O’ Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Florida.
Chappell stroked two game-tying hits in the Black Bears’ 5-4, 10-inning win over Illinois State, then delivered a tying home run in a 6-4 victory over Bowling Green.
UMaine (7-13) wraps up its southern swing with Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. contest against Cornell.
In the first game, Christian Garabedian hit an RBI single with two out in the bottom of the 10th to lift UMaine to the win.
Chappell, a junior transfer from Rock Falls, Illinois, paced the offense with an RBI single in the third and a run-scoring single in the ninth.
Scott Heath of Westbrook singled twice (RBI), while Sam Balzano of Portland and Brenden Geary each posted two singles. Charlie Butler (1-1) got the win with 2⅓ innings of three-hit, shutout relief.
Mason Snyder led Illinois State (7-8) with two doubles, a single and an RBI. Logan Leverett and Ryan Koziol each singled twice and knocked in a run.
Koziol (1-1) took the loss in relief.
Illinois State broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth against Jacob Gosselin-Deschesnes on a walk, a Koziol single and Leverett’s two-out infield hit.
The Bears equalized in the the ninth when Luke Morrill reached on an error and pinch runner Steven Adam advanced on Heath’s groundout. Chappell followed with an RBI single.
UMaine won it in the 10th as Jon Salcedo and Danny Diaz hit one-out singles and Garabedian singled to center with two outs.
In the second game, the Bears came from behind three times to win.
The bullpen shone as Gosselin-Deschesnes (1-1) pitched 2⅔ hitless innings and Butler picked up his third save with a scoreless ninth.
Chappell sparked the offense with a solo homer, two singles and three total RBIs. Shane Bussey (RBI) singled twice and Balzano doubled and singled for UMaine.
Brandon Howard keyed Bowling Green (5-8) with a double, two singles and an RBI. Devin Daugherty (1-1) took the loss in relief.
UMaine took a 4-3 lead with two runs in the sixth. Balzano doubled, Bussey reached on an infield hit and Morrill walked. Heath plated the first run with a sacrifice fly, then Chappell hit an RBI groundout.
The Falcons made it 4-4 in the bottom of the inning when starter Justin Courtney of Bangor surrendered a single, a sacrifice bunt and consecutive walks.
The Bears surged back in front in the eighth against reliever Kevin Daugherty. Balzano hit an infield single, moved up on a passed ball and rode home on Bussey’s single to center. Bussey stole second and scored on a two-out single by Chappell.