12-1 sports story

Lewis Carries Maine to Victory against Bates

Sophomore Outfielder ties Maine record for triples in a season with 10; has 5 RBI on the day



The University of Maine Black Bears defeated the Bates Bobcats by a score of 7-2 yesterday night at the Mahaney Diamond in Orono. Taylor Lewis led the scoring attack by going 3-4 on the day, which included two triples and five RBI. With the two triples, Lewis set a new Maine baseball record for triples in a season with ten triples on the season thusfar.

Myckie Lugbauer got his first start of the season, pitching 3 1/3 innings while only giving up one earned run and striking out six in the no decision. Keith Bilodeau pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball for the victory. The victory ran the Black Bears’ record to 20-16 on the season, and they remained 4-3 in conference play, good for second in the America East.

Bates’ record is now 14-8 on the year as they never could really get into an offensive groove during the game. Catcher Webb Gordy had a good day, going 2-4 with one RBI in the losing effort. Center fielder Pat Murphy also had a good day, going 2-3 while scoring one of Bates’ two runs on the day. Starter Alexander Karl took the loss for Bates, going 5 2/3 innings while giving up five of Maine’s seven earned runs. Karl struck out five batters in the outing, while also walking six.

Bates did play better than the score indicated in this game. Without Lewis’s contribution, Maine went just 2-25 in the game. This has to be a concern for the Black Bears, especially with a long run of conference play coming up, with the Bears playing Albany, Binghamton, Hartford, and Stony Brook within the next few weeks. Maine was picked to win the America East this season in a pre-season poll by the coaches, and has had some inconsistencies with their pitching and hitting which have led to the Bears being only four games over .500. The offense has been picking it up lately, behind the strong play of Taylor Lewis and catcher Joe Mercucio, both hitting well over .300 on the year and pacing the offense.

Maine heads into the home stretch of the season with high hopes that began in February, and hope that the confidence put in them was not in vain.