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Smith, Ostrander Lead Maine Past Hartford on Senior Day
May 5, 2008
ORONO, Maine -- Senior Curt Smith (Willemstad, Curacao) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI, while senior Mark Ostrander (Hopkinton, Mass.) hit a pinch hit home run as the University of Maine baseball team defeated Hartford 7-4 on Senior Day at Mahaney in Orono on Monday night. The Black Bears improve to 18-23-1 on the season and 6-10 in America East play, while Hartford falls to 16-26 overall and 8-8 in conference play. Hartford took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Simon Kudernatsch singled to left field and scored when Adam Bowser reached on a fielder's choice. Maine answered with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Joe Mercurio (Brewster, N.Y.) reached and advanced to second on an error. Danny Menendez (Miami, Fla.) then executed a perfect bunt down the third base line and Mercurio advanced to third base. Mercurio tied the game when Billy Cather (Worcester, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly. Tony Patane (New Milford, Conn.) singled to center field and Menendez advanced to third base. Smith drove home Menendez with a single through the left side. Myckie Lugbauer (Mahopac, N.Y.) drew a walk to load the bases. Patane scored on a wild pitch and Smith scored on a passed ball, giving Maine a 4-1 lead. The Black Bears added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Menendez walked and scored when Cather singled to center field. Hartford added a run in the top of the fifth when Kudernatsch homered to right field. Andy Drexel walked and scored when Brady Stouffer doubled to center field in the top of the seventh inning as Hartford pulled to within a pair of runs at 5-3.
Maine countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Smith doubled to deep left field and then stole third base. He scored when Lugbauer hit a sacrifice fly. Ostrander then pinch hit and belted the first pitch that he saw over the left center field fence. For Ostrander, it was his fourth homer of the season. Hartford made it interesting in the top of the ninth inning, loading the bases with nobody out via two walks and two hit batters. Kudernatsch scored when Ben Sobocinski drew a bases loaded walk. Maine's Jimmy Cox (Bangor, Maine) entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out. He then proceeded to strike out the next three batters in order as preserve the Maine win. Cox picked up his first save of the season. Joe Miller (Valley Stream, N.Y.) got the start and was impressive on the mound for Maine. He went seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits while striking out seven. Miller improves to 4-2 on the season. Kyle Benoit (Brampton, Ontario) went one inning and allowed one run while striking out three. Will Carroll (Boothbay, Maine) faced a pair of batters, before Cox entered the game. Zack Tarner got the start for Hartford and went 2.1 innings. He allowed four runs on four hits and falls to 0-3 on the season. Marc Toomey, Justin DiConzo and Kyle Perry all pitched in relief for the Hawks. Before the game, Maine honored seniors Nolan Boike (Arlington, Mass.), Carroll, Ostrander and Smith. The Black Bears return to action on Saturday, May 10 when they face Vermont in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. in Burlington, Vt.
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