AUBURN — The Central Maine Community College bats came alive in the third and fourth innings.
The Mustangs scored nine runs between the two innings, propelling them to an 11-4 victory against Thomas College on Wednesday. The game counts as a nonconference baseball game for CMCC, while for Thomas, an NCAA Division III team, it is considered an exhibition.
“When we get hot, balls are like beach balls to these guys,” CMCC coach Ryan Palmer said. “Once one guy gets going, everybody gets going. It’s fun to watch. We have been like that all year.”
CMCC (20-10) had 11 hits in the contest.
One of those hits made history. Mustangs center fielder Jimmy Reed had three hits, which led the team, to become the first player in CMCC program history to have 100 career hits. He reached the century mark in dramatic fashion, sliding into first to beat the throw for an infield single in the bottom of the eighth.
“As soon as I hit it, I knew it was going to be a close play,” Reed said. “I had to make it close.”
Palmer said Reed, a sophomore from Skowhegan, is a special player.
“I am just happy for him, probably the best baseball player I ever coached,” Palmer said. “Just a heck of a center fielder, a heck of a leadoff hitter, just an all-around baseball talent. He will go down as being one of the best to be at the school.”
The Mustangs already had the game under control when Reed notched his historic hit.
He started the scoring after leading off the bottom of the first with a walk. Zach Mann drove him in with an RBI single, giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. CMCC had runners on second and third later in the inning, but they were left stranded.
CMCC starter Derek Roman got into trouble in the top of the third. With one on, he walked two consecutive batters, loading the bases. Thomas Matt Seymour drove them all three runners in with a two-out triple to give the Terriers a 3-1 lead.
Roman stopped the Terriers there, ending the inning by getting Jackson Ladd to foul out.
The Mustangs responded in the bottom of the third. Reed and Mann were again the catalysts, reaching on singles. Colton Frisbie’s double to center drove in both runners, tying the game at 3-3. Rolando Rodriguez and Brandon Gour both added bases-loaded RBI singles to put CMCC back on top, 5-3.
“The bottom of our lineup is unique: You got Brandon and Rolando down there,” Palmer said. “I don’t dare to move them. People might say, ‘Why don’t you move them up in the order if they are hot?’ But I like our production at the bottom of the order.”
Reed kept the onslaught going, driving in two runs with his second single of the inning for a 7-3 lead.
After Frisbie scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth, Rodriguez hit a two-run inside-the-park home run to push the Mustangs’ lead to 10-3.
“I was getting a little winded rounding three — I kind of gave up,” Rodriguez said. “I got lucky enough to score.”
The relay throw got arrived home in time, but the catcher mishandled the ball, which allowed Rodriguez to score.
Rodriguez’s three runs led the Mustangs, while Seymour drove in three runs for the Terriers.
Thomas loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, ending Roman’s night on the mound. He was replaced by Jack Cote. Roman went 4 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and striking out five.
The Terriers plated one run on a fielder’s choice, but Cote got third out with the bases loaded.
“It was a nine-inning game, so I told Derek Roman to go out and give us all you got, don’t try to save anything, you aren’t going all nine innings,” Palmer said. “That’s the best Jack Cote has thrown all year, when he came in and really shut the door down.”
Cote pitched the remaining 4 1/3 innings to record the win. He only gave up two hits and had one strikeout.
Thomas used seven different pitchers on the evening, with Wyatt Thompson starting and going just one inning. Jacob Schubert started the third and took the loss. Daniel May had the longest outing, pitching 2 1/3 innings for the Terriers.
After Reed’s 100th career hit in the eighth, Garren Post drove him in with a single, extending the lead to 11-4.
Reed also played well defensively. With no outfield fence in left field, he tracked down two deep fly balls in left-center to end the game.
“Having no fence is huge,” Reed said. “I still have guys who back me up, and I appreciate them, too.”
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