Mount St. Mary's was edged by Maine, 9-8, in a non-conference
matchup in Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday. It was the second straight
one-run loss for the Mount (3-8).
Ryan Murray went 4-for-5 while Ivor Hodgson was 3-for-5 with two
runs scored, but it was not enough to help the Mount come back from
an early 6-0 deficit.
The Black Bears (2-1) got on the board with a run in the top of
the first inning. with a Kevin McAvoy RBI double. Maine added five
runs in the top of the second inning. Brian Hackett had an RBI
single and Billy Cather followed with a run-producing double. Matt
McGraw added a two-run triple in the inning as well.
The Mount countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the
third. Murray and Bobby Plumb each singled to start the inning.
Justus Yocum then walked to load the bases and Hodgson's RBI
groundout produced the Mount's first run. Mike Gioioso's RBI
single made it 6-2.
After a Maine run in the fifth, Josh Vittek blasted a solo home
run in the bottom of the sixth, his second home run of the season.
Maine answered right back in the top of the seventh inning on an
RBI double by Cather.
Mount St. Mary's made the game a bit more interesting in the
bottom of the seventh inning with a pair of runs, pulling it to
within three runs at 8-5. Ivor Hodgson scored on a Maine error and
Vittek crossed the plate after a Joe Hayes RBI single.
Maine added a much-needed insurance run in the ninth on an error
by catcher Vittek.
The Mountaineers rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning,
loading the bases with nobody out. Eric Smith had a two-run single
for Mount St. Mary's and the Mountainners pulled to within two runs
at 9-7. Hayes then grounded into a double-play, however, Vittek
scored and Mount St. Mary's trailed by just one run. The Mount,
however, could not complete the comeback.
Costa Kapothanasis started an allowed seven runs and 11 hits in
4.1 innings of work. Ryan Millea pitched 2.1 innings of relief,
allowing one run.
Gioioso and Drew Counselman each had two hits in the loss while
Vittek finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and his solo home
run.
