Southern Maine Sweeps Rhode Island College 10-0 and 11-7

            PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The University of Southern Maine baseball team rallied for seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to pull out an 11-7 victory over the Rhode Island College Anchormen in the nightcap of the teams Little East Conference doubleheader Sunday at Anchormen Field.

            In the opening game, freshman southpaw Henry Curran (South Portland, Maine) came within two outs of throwing the Huskies first no-hitter in 30 years in a 10-0, seven-inning victory.

            The sweep extends the Huskies winning streak to six games and improves their overall to 13-5.  The Huskies, who opened their LEC schedule on Saturday by sweeping the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, are 4-0 in conference play.  The Anchormen have dropped their last four games to fall to 9-13-2 overall and 0-4 in the conference. 

Game One

            Curran, despite moments of wildness (seven walks), went into the seventh inning needing three outs to pitch the first no-hitter since John McCarthy held Thomas College hitless in April 1986.  The lefty got the first out of the frame before RIC junior catcher Tyler Rains (North Kingston, R.I.) stroked a clean single to right-center field.  The hit also ended Curran's afternoon on the hill as sophomore reliever Bobby Delaney (Merrick, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) was summoned to get the final two outs.  Curran earned his first collegiate win going 6 1/3 innings and striking out six.

            Southern Maine gave its rookie hurler a comfortable early lead with six runs in the second inning.  Four consecutive hits, the last a double by sophomore Nick Bowie (South Paris, Maine/Oxford Hills) produced the first two runs.  After a groundout and an infield error brought in two more runs, the Huskies got RBI singles from junior Paul McDonough (Wells, Maine) and senior Sam Dexter (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee) to bring in the final two runs.

            The Huskies added two more runs in the fifth on an RBI triple from senior Jake Glauser (Goffstown, N.H.) and a sacrifice fly from classmate Nick DiBiase (Portland, Maine/Deering).

            The Anchormen threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with one out on three straight walks.  Curran got an inning-ending double play, the Huskies third of the game, to escape.

            The 10-run rule came into play when USM plated two runs in the seventh.  With two out, Glauser singled and came home on a triple by sophomore Brandon Martins (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor).  DiBiase brought Martins home with a single that made the score 10-0.

            Glauser led the Huskies' 12-hit attack with three hits, including his triple, and two RBI.  DiBiase finished with two hits and three RBI.  Martins and Dexter also had two hits.

            Junior Jake Murray (Middletown, R.I.) took the loss for RIC going 6 1/3 innings allowing all 10 runs on 11 hits while striking out five. 

Game Two

            In the second game, it would be the Anchormen who got off to the fast start scoring five runs in the second inning to go up 5-0.  Junior Scott Linnane (North Kingstown, R.I.) had the big hit clearing the bases with a triple.  Linnane later scored on a single from senior Gian Abbruzzese (North Providence, R.I.).

            The Huskies began mounting their comeback in the next inning getting a two-run single from sophomore Tom Budrewicz (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet Regional).  USM put a single tally on the board in the fifth when Dexter scored on a double play.

            RIC padded its lead with two runs in the sixth.  Junior Nate Cahoone (Westerly, R.I.) scored on a groundout, and Abbruzzese crossed the plate on an infield error.

            After a scoreless seventh, USM got one in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from freshman Kip Richard (Kennebunk, Maine) that brought home Martins who led off the inning with a single.

            With the top of the order coming to bat in the ninth for the Huskies, the first five batters reached base.  McDonough singled and scored on Dexter's double to center field.  After a walk to sophomore Sam Stauble (Harrison, Maine/Bridgton Academy), Glauser drove in Dexter with a double to make it 7-6.

            Martins greeted RIC sophomore reliever Stewart Braman (Middletown, R.I.) with a single through the left side to score Glauser and Stauble giving the Huskies an 8-7 lead.  A costly infield error on Budrewicz's ground ball put runners left first and second, and DiBiase moved them up with a sacrifice bunt.  Richard came through with a clutch single through the right side to bring Martins and Budrewicz home.  Pinch runner Nick Volger (Portland, Maine/Portland) would score on McDonough's two-out double.

            Rookie Jake Dexter (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee), the last of four USM hurlers employed in the game, picked up the win pitching 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief allowing three hits while striking out four.  He did not walk a batter.

            Sam Dexter led the Huskies' 14-hit attack going 3 for 6, including a pair of doubles, with three runs scored and one RBI.  His double in the ninth inning was Dexter's 273rd career hit, tying him with former All-American Tyler Delorme (2000-2003) for the most hits in school history.

            McDonough, Stauble, Glauser, Martins and Budrewicz all had two hits for the Huskies.  Richards had three RBI.

            Linnane finished 2 for 5 with three RBI for the Anchormen.  Sophomore Brad Douglas (Wakefield, R.I./South Kingstown), junior TJ Lynch (South Kingstown, R.I.), Rains and Abbruzzese also had two hits.  Senior Kory Lawrence (Woonsocket, R.I.) faced just two batters and was tagged with the loss in relief.  Starter PJ Watson (Cheshire, Conn.) went eight-plus innings for a no decision. 

Up Next

            Southern Maine returns home to play Husson University on Tuesday (3:30 p.m.).  Rhode Island College will play at Johnson and Wales University on Wednesday (3:30 p.m.). 

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