AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- University of Maine at Farmington baseball (7-2) produced a seven-run eighth inning on Saturday morning to pull off a 12-9 comeback win over St. Joseph's College at the RussMatt Invitational in non-conference action.
The Beavers were trailing 6-3 before mastering the big inning. Grayson Beressi (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) started the rally with an infield single and then Jimmy Neal (Farmington, Maine/Mt. Blue) kept the line moving with a walk.
After an infield fly, UMF made the score 6-4 after the Monks muffed a grounder and Beressi crossed home plate. With the bases loaded, Sean Cabaniss (Vassalboro, Maine/Erskine Academy) drew a walk as the Beavers drew within a run. Dustin McCrossin (Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth) came through in the clutch with a two-run single through the right side to give UMF its first lead of the day, 7-6.
Farmington tacked on another run with an error and a fielder's choice before Beressi crushed an RBI double in his second plate appearance of the inning. After the third out, UMF held a 10-6 cushion.
In the top of the ninth, the Beavers added two more runs when McCrossin ripped his second double of the game into the right center gap.
The Monks would try to pull off a comeback of their own with three runs in their last at-bat. St. Joe's drew a leadoff walk and then hit batsman before Jameson Collins belted a three-run shot over the left field wall as the Monks trimmed UMF's lead, 12-9. The Beavers' pitching staff retired the next two hitters with a pair of fly outs to end the game.
McCrossin was 4-for-6 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. Beressi added two RBI for the Beavers and Cabaniss and Neal each scored a pair of runs.
Jory Humphrey (Jefferson, Maine/Erskine Academy) earned the win for UMF after pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief work. Humphrey struck out three monks and allowed three runs on three hits.
The Beavers finished their Florida trip with a record of 5-1, losing only to Eastern Connecticut State, who advanced to the Little East Conference Championship last season.
UMaine-Farmington starts conference play on Sunday, April 3 with a doubleheader at Husson.