WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Freshman right-hander Zack Bean (Westbrook, Maine) pitched six innings and senior DH Chris Bernard (Scarborough, Maine) drove in three runs as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the St. Norbert College Green Knights, 7-1, in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader at Chain O Lakes Park.  The game was called in the top of the seventh inning due to rain, and the second game of the doubleheader was cancelled.

            The win was the fifth of the season against one loss for the Huskies.  The Green Knights dropped their third straight to fall to 0-3.

            Bean, making his first collegiate start, settled down after a shaky first inning to allow six hits and two walks while striking out two.  The Green Knights had the bases loaded with two outs in the first, but Bean got a groundout to escape any damage.  Bean retired the side in order in the third and fifth innings, and only faced three batters in the fourth as he got a double play to end the inning.

            Bernard had two hits, including a home run, to pace the Huskies' nine-hit attack.  Senior John Carey (South Portland, Maine) had a double and a single and drove in two.  Freshman Paul McDonough (Wells, Maine) went 1 for 4 and scored three times.

            Juniors Jose Godinez (Melrose, Park, Ill.) and Adam Enwiya (McHenry, Ill.) each had a pair of singles for the Green Knights.  Senior southpaw Kevin Nutley (Forest Park, Ill.) went the distance and took the loss on the hill.

            Bernard helped stake Bean to a 1-0 lead before the rookie hurler even threw a pitch. McDonough reached on a two-base infield error, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on Bernard's two-out single.

            The Huskies tacked up three runs against Nutley in the third to expand their lead to 4-0.  McDonough and Carey led off the inning with back-to-back singles.  A double play erased Carey with McDonough moving over to third. Senior Forrest Chadwick (Gardiner, Maine) singled home McDonough, and came around when Bernard hit his first home run of the season.

            Carey drove in two runs in the fourth with a double down the left-field line.  Senior Matt Verrier (Norway, Maine/Oxford Hills) accounted for the Huskies' final run in the fifth with a solo home run.

            Bean was one out away from a shutout in the sixth inning when he nicked senior Nick Pierre (De Pere, Wis.) with a pitch.  Godinez and Enwiya followed with back-to-back singles to bring Pierre around.  Bean was able to get the next batter to fly out.

            Southern Maine has an off day on Tuesday.  The Huskies will face the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Wednesday (9:45 a.m.) at the Lake Myrtle Complex in Auburndale, Fla.  St. Norbert will face Oglethorpe on Tuesday (12:00 p.m.) at the Lake Myrtle Complex.

            USM NOTES: Senior INF Troy Thibodeau (Danvers, Mass./New Hampton) collected his 100th career hit in the game Sunday against Benedictine. Thibodeau singled in the first inning to move within one, and tripled in the third for his milestone hit ... Six of Bernard's eight hits to date have been for extra bases. Carey has five extra base hits through the first six games.

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