Justin Courtney of Bangor scattered seven hits and one run through seven innings on Friday night, setting the tone for the University of Maine’s 3-1 baseball victory over New Mexico State at Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The sophomore right-hander (1-0) blanked the Aggies (3-1) through six innings, then worked around three doubles to surrender only one run in the seventh. He struck out two and hit a batter, throwing 88 pitches before giving way to Charlie Butler.
The senior worked a scoreless eighth but was lifted after going to a 2-1 count to the leadoff batter in the ninth. Classmate Logan Fullmer who walked Trey Stine and allowed a one-out single to Austin Botello before getting pinch hitter Zak Felix on a game-ending groundout to record the save.
Junior transfer Tyler Schwanz keyed the offense for UMaine (2-2) with a double, two singles and two RBIs. Brett Chappell posted a double and drove in a run among eight hits.
The Black Bears jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning against New Mexico State starter and loser Kyle Bradish. Danny Casals drew a leadoff walk, took third on an error by the catcher, and scored on Schwanz’s one-out double down the right-field line.
UMaine made it 2-0 in the third after two were out. Jeremy Pena stroked a double, then rode home on Schwanz’s single up the middle.
The Black Bears posted an insurance run in the fifth, again with two outs. Schwanz was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch and came home on Chappell’s single through the middle.
Bradish gave up six hits and three earned runs in six innings and finished with seven strikeouts, three walks and a hit batsman.
Botello led the offense with two doubles and a single and Brent Sakurai hit two singles.
Back-to-back doubles by Stine and Botello produced the NMSU run.