ORONO, Maine – Senior shortstop Brett Wallingford pounded out three hits for the University of Maine at Farmington's best effort of the day as the Beavers squared off against Division I University of Maine and dropped a 10-1 decision to the Black Bears on Thursday at Mahaney Diamond.

The Beavers fell to 3-11 overall with the loss, while the Black Bears improved to 9-16.

UMaine jumped all over UMF starter Ben Pearson in the first inning, plating four runs on one hit, two hit batsmen, two walks, and two sacrifice flies. The Black Bears tacked on runs in the second and third and held a 7-0 lead after three complete.

The Beavers posted their lone run of the game in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a one-out error by Black Bear third baseman Shane Bussey that allowed Ben Keene to get aboard. Keene advanced on a single and a ground out, eventually scoring on Grayson Beressi's single into center field.

Farmington still had two runners aboard, but UMaine pitcher Luke Morrill got the Beavers' Jimmy Neal to foul out to left field to get the Black Bears out of the inning.

UMaine added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth, and posting a single run in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Both squads gave their bullpens plenty of work, with the Beavers using seven pitchers and the Black Bears burning through six arms.  Pearson took the loss for Farmington, while UMaine starter Shaun Coughlin picked up the win in the short two-inning stint after allowing just one hit with four strikeouts.

UMaine-Farmington has a quick turnaround before returning to North Atlantic Conference play this weekend. The Beavers will face Castleton State at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 4, in a conference doubleheader played at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H. The two teams will square off again on Saturday, April 5, at 3:00 p.m. in a twinbill at Auburn High School in Auburn, Mass.

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