University of Maine at Farmington Sargent Hits a Pair of Home Runs as Beavers Earn Season Opening Split versus MCLA

Ryan Sargent/Baseball | University of Maine at Farmington

By Mid Coast Today Reports

Mar 14, 2023

The University of Maine at Farmington baseball team opened up their season on Saturday afternoon at the Russmatt Invitational by splitting a doubleheader against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The Trailblazers took game one 9-7 but the Beavers bounced back in game two beating MCLA 5-4.

Game One

As the visiting team in game one, the Beavers got things rolling early when junior 1st baseman Ryan Sargent (Windham, Maine) ripped an opposite field two-run home run that
stayed just fair inside the left field foul pole.

The Trailblazers responded in the bottom of the 2nd inning. After a pair of walk gave the Trailblazers 1st and 2nd with one out. Michael Wormuth crushed a three-run home run to left to give MCLA a 3-2 lead.

The Beavers quickly regained the lead in the top of the 3rd inning. With Nate Coombs (Thomaston, Maine) and Ryan Sargent aboard, freshman designated hitter Sam Parsell (Newington, Conn.) ripped a three-run homer to left field to give the Beavers a 5-3 lead. The home run for Parsell was the first hit of his collegiate career.

Things began to unravel a little bit in the bottom half of the third inning for junior starting pitcher Aaron Goschke (Gorham, Maine). Leadoff hitter Austin Rachiele drew a walk, stole 2nd, and advanced to 3rd on a Randy Adams single. The next batter was Noel Medina, who also drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Jayco Pena was up next and laced a double to the gap scoring a pair and tying the game at five. Goschke would get Ty Mazzeo to strike out to record the first out of the inning. The next batter was Josh Bologh who attempted a safety squeeze. Medina from 3rd stunted toward home to get the attention of Beaver catcher Danny Terhune (South Burlington, Vermont) and give Bologh enough time to reach 1st base safely and reload the bases with one out. Wormuth then came back up to the plate and tallied a two-RBI hit, giving the Trailblazers a 7-5 lead. The Blazers tacked on another pair of runs in the inning to grab a 9-5 lead.

The Beavers cut into the lead in the top of the 4th when Coombs drew a bases loaded walk.

In the top of the 6th Coombs hit a fly ball to left that the Trailblazers left fielder misplayed, allowing Terhune to score all the way from 1st. Sargent and Parsell were each 2-4 in game one while Jonny Pruett (Waterford, Maine), Derek Gendreau (Hampden, Maine) and Jacob Kateley (Deep River, Conn.) each recorded a hit. Goschke gave up six hits and nine earned runs while striking out three in three innings. TJ Dorn (Westbrook, Maine) pitched a pair of scoreless innings while Logan Holcomb (Hebron, Conn.) pitched a scoreless 6th.

Game Two

In game two, the teams swapped and the Beavers were home while the Trailblazers were the away team. Rachiele started the game off in a big way, blasting a home run to quickly put the Beavers in a 1-0 hole. Justin Hernandez added to the Trailblazers lead, driving in Brady Hamel with an RBI single.

The Beavers took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Will Cauchon (Kingston, Mass.) and Cal Tibbitts (Bath, Maine) lead off the inning drawing a pair of walks. Gendreau ripped a one-out double to left-center that drove home Cauchon to make it a 2-1 game. Tyler Lambert (Lyman, Maine) drew a two-out walk to bring Hunter LaBossiere (Oxford, Maine) to the plate with the bases loaded. LaBossiere came through clutch with a two RBI single to give the Beavers the lead.

The Trailblazers battled back in the top of the 3rd inning when Mazzeo ripped an RBI double, tying the game at three a piece.

The Beavers had a chance to regain the lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning but were unable to capitalize on a one-out, bases loaded opportunity.

Sargent gave the Beavers the lead for good in the bottom of the 4th when he ripped his 2nd home run of the day to right-center.

The Beavers tacked on an insurance run in the 5th as Coombs singled home Kateley to make it a 5-3 game.

In the top of the 6th, MCLA cut their deficit in half when Hamel doubled home Wormuth.

On the mound, Will Harriman (Biddeford, Maine) battled for 5.2 innings, scattering eight hits and four earned while striking out five. Anthony Boyle (Wallingford, Conn.) earned the 1st save of his career, recording the final four outs for the Beavers.