Baseball:Maine sweeps Hartford

Keith Bilodeau (Bourne, Mass.) pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on two hits, as the University of Maine baseball team defeated Hartford 3-1 and 5-1 to sweep a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon in West Hartford, Conn. Maine improves to 12-19 on the season and evens its record in America East Conference play to 3-3. Hartford falls to 2-25-1 on the season and 0-5 in conference play.

In game one, Maine stuck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) was hit and then stole second base. Ian Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) was also hit and Taylor Lewis (Montville, Conn.) then singled up the middle scoring Fransoso. Leisenheimer then scored on a muffed throw by the first baseman, giving the Black Bears a 2-0 lead. Maine loaded the bases in the inning, but just score the two runs.

Hartford got on a board with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Brian Hunter walked and Victor Santana followed with a double to left field. Hunter scored on a Mark Sorbara sacrifice fly.

The Black Bears added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Fransoso hit a solo home run. It was the second home run of the season for Fransoso.

Bilodeau pitched his team-leading second complete game of the season. He improves to 4-2 on the campaign. He allowed just a pair of hits while striking out five batters.

Mike Thatcher threw a complete game for the Hawks as well. He allowed three runs on four hits while striking out a pair. He falls to 0-4 on the season.

In game 2, Maine hit three home runs en route to a 5-1 victory over Hartford to sweep the doubleheader.

Maine took a 1-0 lead when Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) homered to left field to lead off the game. For Fransoso, the home run was third of the season and second of the day, as he had belted a homer in the first game of the doubleheader as well.

Maine added a run in the top of the fourth inning. Joey Martin (Portland, Maine) reached on a bunt single to third base. He stole second and scored when Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) hit a sacrifice fly.

Mike Connolly (Middleborough, Mass.) extended Maine's lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning when he hit his first career home run.

Ian Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) extended Maine's lead to 4-0 when he belted a solo home run to lead off the top of the sixth inning.

Hartford got a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brendan Behm led off the inning with a walk. He moved to third when Mark Sorbara singled through the right side and scored when the Hawks hit into a double play.

Maine added to its lead with a run in the top of the eighth inning. Martin was hit and Fran Whitten (Westborough, Mass.) followed with a single to third base. Martin advanced to second on the play. He scored when Justin Leisenheimer doubled down the right field line.

The Black Bears hit three home runs in the second game on Saturday against Hartford. Maine had entered the game having hit just 10 home runs in 30 games on the season.

Jeffrey Gibbs (Toronto, Ontario) was strong on the mound for the Black Bears. He went seven innings and allowed just one run on four hits while striking out three. He improves to 3-4 on the season. Shaun Coughlin (Northfield, Conn.) replaced Gibbs. He went two innings and did not allow a hit while striking out two.

Alex Gouin went four innings on the mound for the Hawks. He allowed two runs on two hits while striking out one. He falls to 0-3 on the season. Hunter Englehart replaced Gouin. He went 2.1 innings and allowed a pair of runs on three hits. Kevin Veilleux went the final 2.2 innings. he allowed one run on three hits while striking out three.

The two teams finish their three-game America East series on Sunday, April 17 at 1 PM in West Hartford, Conn.

-UM-