Baseball Falls at Brown University

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The University of Maine baseball squad fell to Brown University this afternoon, 22-4. The loss sets the Black Bears back at 6-12 on the season while the Brown Bears improve to 1-7 thus far. Brian Doran (Ayr, Ontario) led the Black Bears at the plate, hitting 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. He also tallied a stolen base.

The Brown Bears took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning after Will Marcal drove in a pair of runs on a double to right center, giving Brown a 2-0 lead. Scoring on the play were Matt DeRenzi and Graham Tyler. DeRenzi reached on a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch while Tyler reached on a walk in the next at bat.

Maine was quick to tie the game back up in the top of the second inning. The first run came after Scott Heath (Westbrook, Maine) drove Justin Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) in from third on a sacrifice fly to center field. Leisenheimer initially reached on a single to left field and advanced to third on a single to right field by Brian Doran. The Black Bears notched the tying run after Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) knocked a single to left field, scoring Doran. Doran had moved to scoring position after stealing second base. After two innings of play, the score was tied 2-2.

The Black Bears took a two run lead in the top of the third after Justin Leisenheimer reached on an error with the bases loaded, scoring Alex Calbick (Burnaby, British Columbia). Calbick had reached on a leadoff double to left field and advanced to third after Tyler Patzalek (Burlington, Ontario) laid down a bunt single. Patzalek then moved to second after Fran Whitten (Westborough, Mass.) drew a walk to load the bases. After everyone moved up a bases when Leisenheimer reached, Brian Doran drove Patzalek in from third on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Brown regained the lead after tallying three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Relief pitcher Luke Morrill (South Thomaston, Maine) secured the first out of the inning after striking out Mike DiBiase. Morrill then got Cody Slaughter to strikeout, however Slaughter was able to reach first due to a wild pitch. On the next at bat, Slaughter was forced out at second after Will Marcal reached on a fielder's choice. Marcal then advanced into scoring position after he stole second base. Wes Van Boom helped Marcal complete his trip around the bases in the next at bat after driving a double to down the left field line. John Sheridan then reached on a single to left field, moving Van Boom to third base. Both of them came in to score in the next at bat after Nick Fornaca doubled to left center. Morrill tallied the third out of the inning after striking out J.J. Franco to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Brown Bears tagged the Maine pitching staff for five runs. Cody Slaughter contributed to those five after hitting a three run homer to left field, driving in Graham Tyler and Mike DiBiase. Tyler had reached after doubling to left center while DiBiase reached on a walk in the next at bat. Will Marcal then singled to right field and moved on to third base after Wes Van Boom doubled to left field. After a strikeout by John Sheridan for the second out of the inning, Nick Fornaca hit a triple to right field, driving in Marcal and Van Boom. After Fran Whitten came in to pitch for Morrill, Whitten got the final out of the inning after getting J.J. Franco to line out to right field. With four innings in the books, Brown had a 10-4 lead.

Brown tallied one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mike DiBiase drove in Matt DeRenzi on a sacrifice fly to center field. DeRenzi reached on a single to right center and then moved onto third after Graham Tyler singled through the left side. Fran Whitten got the next two outs consecutively after striking out Will Marcal and forcing Cody Slaughter out on a fielder's choice at second.

Fran Whiten tried to get things started with a one out double in the top of the seventh inning, however; the Black Bears were unable to keep it going.

The Brown Bears added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to give them a 14-4 lead. Mike DeRenzi was the first to reach after being hit by a pitch and advanced to second after Graham Tyler drew a walk. DeRenzi then came home from second base after Mike DiBiase doubled down the right field line, moving Tyler to third base. Tyler then came in to score and DiBiase advanced to third after Cody Slaughter grounded out to second base. Will Marcal then drove DiBiase in after doubling to right.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Brown extended their lead after scoring eight runs. Four of the runs came from a grand slam to left field by Wes Van Boom. With the additional eight runs, Brown secured a 22-4 lead that would ultimately be the final score.

Luke Morrill was given the loss on the afternoon after pitching two innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits. Morrill also surrendered a walk while striking out four. His record falls to 1-1. Starter Manny Pupo (Boynton Beach, Fla.) tossed 1.2 innings, giving up two runs on one hit. He walked three and struck out one. Heath Mayo helped Brown to their first win of the season after throwing eight innings, giving up seven hits and four runs; three of which were earned. He also walked four and struck out two. His record now stands at 1-0.

The Black Bears will stay on the road for a three game series against Bryant University. The first game will start tomorrow at 3 p.m.  

-U-M-