ORONO, Maine – Thursday featured the first upset of the 2022 #AEBASE tournament as #4 UMass Lowell defeated #1 Maine, 9-7, in the opening game at Mahaney Diamond.
Next was a rare offensive outburst as #2 Binghamton became the first team in 20 years to score 20 runs in a tournament game. The River Hawks and Bearcats will square off Friday at 11 a.m. for the right to advance to the championship game. Maine will take the diamond at 2:30 p.m. against #3 NJIT after the Highlanders won Thursday’s elimination game over #5 UMBC.
The losing teams from the first game will play the winner of Maine/NJIT Friday evening with the winner advancing to play either UMass Lowell or Binghamton for the league title on Saturday.
2022 #AEBASE Championship - Day 2 Recap
#4 UMass Lowell 9, #1 Maine 7
- For the second-straight day UMass Lowell homered in the first inning.
- All-Conference First Team choice Joe Bramanti sparked a four-run second inning for Maine with a solo blast and later hit his 17th home run of the season – the highest single-season total by an #AEBASE hitter since 1999 and sixth highest all-time.
- The River Hawks loaded the bases before Maine recorded an out in the fifth and Ryan Proto’s three-run triple put them ahead 7-6.
- The Black Bears loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth but pushed just one run across on a twin killing, then stranded six baserunners in the seventh and eighth inning while trailing 8-7.
- UMass Lowell leftfielder Alex Luccini made a tremendous over-the-should catch to end the ballgame.
#2 Binghamton 20, #3 NJIT 5
- Binghamton scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the first, capped by a two-run Kevin Reilly homer to score Rookie of the Year Evin Sullivan.
- A two-run double for All-Rookie selection Logan Haskell padded the lead in the second.
- The Bearcats plated three more in the third before a Nick Hussey home run in the top of the fourth gave NJIT its first run.
- Second-Team All-Conference pitcher Thomas Babalis struck out nine in six innings of work, earning his fourth win of the year.
- Every Bearcat crossed the plate and Reilly drove in a game-high six runs.
- 20 runs are the most in a postseason game since Towson scored 20 in 2001.
#3 NJIT 2, #5 UMBC 1
- Both teams had runners reach base in the first inning but the game remained scoreless.
- Christian Easley singled and stole second in the third inning and Luke Trythall's RBI single put UMBC in front 1-0.
- NJIT had a pair of runners on with no outs in the fifth but freshman Nick Remy struck out two to strand both.
- Remy threw 7.1 no-hit innings, setting a new career-high in innings pitched and tying a career-high with 6 strikeouts.
- After he was pulled in the eight, the Highlanders scratched out a pair of runs to take the lead.
- Aidan Kidd struck out ten in six innings, surrendering a lone earned run and Grant Vurpillat picked up his second win in as many days.
Stay up-to-date on the tournament by visiting Championship Central for streaming and live stats links. After each day, visit for box scores, highlights and recaps in addition to team information, tournament history and more.
Follow @AmericaEast and @AEGameday on Twitter to get the real-time championship updates. Use the #AEChamps and #AEBASE hashtags to join the conversation.
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