Box Score

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Connor Lyons had a career-high four hits and scored a career-best three runs as the Northeastern baseball team carried a three-run lead into the ninth inning, but Maine rallied for three runs in the ninth and scored the game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning to take a 6-5 win over the Huskies Tuesday afternoon.

The loss marks Northeastern's first extra-inning loss since the 2012 season.

The Huskies (3-6), serving as the designated "home" team in their third game of the Snowbird Baseball Classic, got on the board when Lyons (4-for-5, 3R, 2B, 3B) beat out an infield single to third base in the second inning. Lyons advanced to second on a balk, and Joey Scambia (1-for-2, 2B, RBI, BB) ripped an RBI double down the first-base line to put NU ahead, 1-0. 

Freshman pitcher Dustin Hunt (4.2 IP, 2ER, 4BB, 4SO) showed veteran poise in his first-career collegiate start as he kept the Black Bears (4-7) at bay in the early going. Brenden Geary led off the third inning with a single and Shane Bussey followed with a double to put runners on second and third with nobody out, but Hunt got the next two batters to strikeout and induced an inning-ending fly ball to maintain NU's narrow 1-0 lead.

Brad Burcroff added to the Huskies' advantage in the third inning when he blasted a solo home run over the left field wall for his first home run of the season.

Maine broke through with two runs in the fifth inning when an RBI double by Colin Gay and an RBI single by Kyle Silva tied the game, 2-2, but the Huskies regained the lead in the sixth inning.

Lyons hit a one-out double and Nick Fanneron (0-for-1, R, 2BB) and Scambia both walked to load the bases. Gabe Levanti (2-for-4, RBI) singled to the left side to plate Lyons, and Josh Treff (0-for-4, RBI) followed with a sac fly to left field to score Fanneron and put NU in front, 4-2. Lyons was once again the offensive catalyst when he tripled to right field in the eighth inning and scored his third run of the game when Mike Piscopo (1-for-1, RBI, BB) singled to centerfield.

Scott Heath began Maine's ninth inning with a walk, but Michael Foster got Gay to ground out and Troy Black to pop out for the first two outs of the inning. Brian Doran then singled to put runners on the corners, and Silva followed with a game-tying home run to left field.

The Black Bears scored in the 10th inning when Bussey reached base on a fielder's choice and then moved to second on another fielder's choice. Gay popped up a Mike Fitzgerald offering into right-center field, but both centerfielder Connor Lyons and right fielder Sean Lyons lost the ball in the sun as it fell safely to the ground, allowing Bussey to score what stood as the game-winning run.

The Huskies look to bounce back on Wednesday with a 4 p.m. game against Presbyterian.   

Notables
• Connor Lyons finished a home run shy of the cycle just one game after Jason Vosler finished a long ball shy of the cycle against St. Bonaventure.
• Brad Burcroff's home run came on a 2-1 count.
• Burcfroff now has five-straight multi-hit games (11-for-21).
• The Huskies collected 13 hits against Maine and have reached at least 13 hits in three consecutive games.


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