The University of Maine baseball team’s place in the upcoming America East tournament has been secured.
The Black Bears managed only three hits in Friday’s first game, but pitchers Justin Courtney and Logan Fullmer held the University at Albany in check to help UMaine post a 4-1 victory at Alumni Field in Albany, New York.
Coach Steve Trimper’s team (24-25, 10-9 AE), which completed the sweep with a 3-1 win in the second game, clinched a spot in next week’s four-team, double-elimination America East Baseball Championship at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Massachusetts.
UMaine will be the No. 3 seed and will face No. 2 Maryland Baltimore County in a first-round game on Thursday. Top seed Stony Brook and Hartford is the other Day 1 matchup.
UAlbany (13-28, 6-13 AE) was eliminated from playoff contention. The teams are scheduled to play their mutual regular-season finale Saturday at noon.
In the opener, Courtney (5-5) again provided consistency. The freshman right-hander from Bangor limited the Great Danes to five hits and an unearned run through six innings.
He struck out two and walked two, throwing 107 pitches, before another shutdown relief performance by Logan Fullmer. The junior righty pitched three scoreless innings, giving up one hit and two walks while fanning four to pick up a save.
The Black Bears were opportunistic despite being limited to two hits over 6⅔ innings by UAlbany starter Stephen Woods (3-6). He struck out eight, but also issued four walks and was victimized by some miscues.
Luke Morrill of South Thomaston doubled and knocked in a run for UMaine, which managed only singles by Sam Balzano of Portland and Brett Chappell.
Craig Lepre singled twice among six hits for the Great Danes.
The hosts had grabbed a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning against Courtney. Matt Hinchy reached on a one-out fielding error, then took third on Lepre’s single and scored on Garrett Longhurst’s sacrifice fly.
UMaine responded in the seventh, scoring four times despite getting only one hit. Scott Heath of Westbrook walked, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Morrill.
Morrill stole third and scored when Kevin Stypulkowski struck out but reached on the wild pitch. Stypulkowski took second on an errant pickoff attempt, Brenden Geary walked and Woods was lifted in favor of Joey Moore.
Stypulkowski and Geary then worked a double steal and the former scored when ball four to Steven Adam was not handled by the catcher. The Bears capped it off with a delayed double steal that allowed Geary to steal home.
In Game 2, Heath gave up only three hits and one run in five innings to help UMaine register its fifth straight conference win.
The senior lefty (6-3) struck out five and walked three before Charlie Butler and Fullmer (fourth save) each worked a scoreless inning of relief.
UMaine’s bench players sparked the offense, led by three singles from Jake Osborne and a double and a single from Alex Cabrera. Christian Garabedian added two singles and an RBI and Jon Salcedo had an RBI single.
Will Miller singled twice to lead the Great Danes in support of Cameron Sorgie (1-6), who allowed 10 hits and three runs in seven innings.