GORHAM, Maine -- Senior Dylan Hapworth (Winslow, Maine) went 3 for 4, including two home runs, and drove in three runs as the seventh-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies used the long ball to defeat the visiting University of Maine at Farmington Beavers 12-1 in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday afternoon at Ed Flaherty Field.
            The win was the third straight for the Huskies, and improved their overall mark to 8-1.  The game was the season opener for the Beavers.
            Southern Maine hit four home runs in the game to build a 9-1 lead.  Junior Sam Troiano (South Portland, Maine) began the long ball parade hitting a two-run shot to center field to highlight a three-run first inning for the Huskies.
            Rookie Cam Seymour (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) lead off the third inning with a solo blast to right field.  The round tripper was the fifth of the season for Seymour.  Two batters later, Hapworth hit his first homer of the game, a solo shot, over the scoreboard in left field.
            Hapworth added a two-run homer, again over the scoreboard, in the sixth inning to it 9-1.  The two home runs give Hapworth 26 for his career, moving him into a tie with former All-Americans Tony Miner (1994-97) and Gary Williamson (1991-93) for fifth place on the all-time list.
            The Huskies got solid pitching from rookie hurlers Matt Burnett (Ellsworth, Maine), Dylan Miner (East Baldwin, Maine, Sacopee Valley) and Ethan Brown (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little).  Burnett picked up his first collegiate win working the first five innings.  He allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out two.  Miner followed with three scoreless innings, and Brown finished up by setting the side down in order in the ninth.
            UMaine Farmington picked up its lone run of the game in the fifth inning.  Junior Ryan Simard (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) and sophomore Danny Terhune (South Burlington, Vt.) had back-to-back singles with one out.  After Burnett got the second out on a popup, sophomore Hunter LaBossiere (Oxford, Maine/Oxford Hills) delivered Simard with a single to right field.  Burnett escaped further damage getting the final out himself with a ground ball back to the mound.
            Hapworth was the lone repeat hitter in the Huskies' 10-hit attack against four UMF pitchers.  LaBossiere and Terhune each had a pair of singles for the Beavers.
            UMF senior starting pitcher Ryan Pratt (New Sharon, Maine/Mt. Blue) went three innings and was tagged with the loss.
            Southern Maine is back in action this Friday (12:00 p.m.) hosting Rhode Island College for a Little East Conference doubleheader.  No spectators are allowed due to Covid-19 restrictions.  UMaine Farmington is off until April 8 when it is scheduled to play its home opener against Husson University.