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| Contributed photo/jMavor Photography Limestone-MSSM first baseman Zach Cote applies the tag to Central Aroostook’s Darren Murray during Thursday’s game in Mars Hill. The Panthers won the playoff contest, 12-2. |
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The Central Aroostook Panthers hosted No. 8 Limestone-MSSM Thursday and came through with a 12-2 win in a game called after six innings due to the 10-run rule.
CA lead 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, but put four runs on the board in that inning. Dan Brewer hit a two-run homer to highlight the rally.
The Panthers scored four more times in the fifth, with Brewer again providing the key hit with a two-run double.
Ross Grass, Brewer and York combined on the pitching duties and allowed six hits. The Panther defense played error-free baseball throughout the game.
Murray doubled and singled and picked up two RBI for CA.
Limestone-MSSM starting pitcher Nate Tucker, who made it into the fourth inning before being replaced, took the loss. Tristan Kirk doubled, while Bret Butler, Chris Bernier, Austin Dow-Smith and Brandon Thompson all had singles for the Eagles, who closed out their season with an 11-7 record.
Last Tuesday, Limestone-MSSM was able to reach the quarterfinal round after besting Fort Fairfield at home, 10-5, in a preliminary playoff game.
After losing the two regular season meetings to the Tigers, the Eagles prevailed behind a strong performance on the mound from Bernier. The sophomore righthander struck out 14 batters and allowed only one walk and five hits while doing the distance.
He outdueled his cousin, FF’s Austin Bernier, who also pitched a complete game.
The Tigers bolted out to a 3-0 lead on hits by Andrew Tuck, Austin Bernier, Landon Towle and Tyler Churchill in the third inning.
The Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Tyler Morgan and Tucker singled before Chris Bernier plated both on a double and then scored on a hit by Dow-Smith.
Limestone-MSSM took a 6-3 lead by scoring two unearned runs in the fourth and another in the fifth and then put the game away with a four-run outburst in the sixth. Dylan Nadeau had a single and was brought home on a single off the bat of Kirk. Tucker and Butler then had RBI singles before Butler stole home for the final run of the inning.
