AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Sophomore
Rodney Bean (Norway, Maine/Oxford Hills) had a pinch-hit RBI single and classmate
Cam Seymour (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 12 inning to lead the No. 19 University of Southern Maine Huskies to an 8-7 win over the College of New Jersey Lions RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Saturday morning.
The Huskies overcame a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, and then rallied from a three-run 6-3 deficit in the bottom of the 11
th before securing the victory in 12 innings.
THE BASICS:
Records:
College of New Jersey (2-1)
No. 19 Southern Maine (2-3)
Score:
No. 19 Southern Maine 8
College of New Jersey 7
Pitching:
Winning Pitcher:
Matt Burnett (1-0), 1.0 IP, 1 earned run, 1 hit, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher: Brian Brown (0-1), 0.2 IP, 2 earned runs, 2 hits, 2 walks
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Down 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, the Huskies scored two runs on two hits while utilizing a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch. Sophomore Jonathan Wilson (East Granby, Conn.) led off the inning with a single, and scored on an RBI ground out from classmate Jack LeBlond (Lewiston, Maine/Bridgton Academy). Junior tom Vesosky (Colchester, Vermont) drove in the game-tying run with an RBI single to left field plating senior Jason Komulainen (Gorham, Maine) who had reached safely after being hit by a pitch.
- After a scoreless 10th, the Lions scored three runs in the top of the 11th, including an RBI ground out fielders choice from Jack Haynes and an RBI single from Chris Reeder.
- Down three, 6-3, and with the game on the line, the Huskies scored three runs on two outs to force the 12th and final inning. Vesosky came through in the clutch again with a two-run double to the right field gap, scoring Komulainen and freshman Joe Bova (Boston, Mass./Winchendon School). The Huskies tied it up one batter later on an RBI single from Seymour to score Vesosky.
- TCNJ took the lead again, 7-6, on an RBI walk from Ryan Goodall after securing a leadoff single from Michael Schumacher, but USM claimed the win with two run in the home half of the inning. After a one-out walk was issued to Komulainen, LeBlond singles up the middle advancing the runner. Bean stepped in as a pinch hitter in the next at bat and laced a double to right-center scoring Komulainen to tie up the game. With LeBlond advancing to third on the double, Seymour lofted a sacrifice fly to right field for the game-winning RBI.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Sophomore Bryce Afthim (Windham, Maine) started the game and pitched seven solid innings allowing three runs (all unearned). He gave up six hits and two walks while striking out five.
- Vesosky finished the game 4-for-6 with one run scored and four RBI. He had a pair of doubles and a walk in an outstanding day at the plate.
- Seymour was the only other Husky with multiple hits going 2-for-6 with two RBI.
- TCNJ's Chris Reeder was 3-for-6 with three RBI for the Lions, while Chris Cote was 2-for-6 with a pair of doubles.
UP NEXT:
The No. 19 Huskies return to action on Monday (1:45 pm) vs. Webster University.
-cac-