FARMINGTON – In the 2025 home opener on Wednesday afternoon the University of Maine at Farmington swept the University of Maine at Augusta in two non-conference matchups at Hippach Field. Wednesday’s matchup was the first for Farmington head coach Chris Bessey 93’ against his son and former player, Jake Bessey ‘19. The Beavers closed out game one in dramatic fashion, escaping with a 7-6 victory before coming from behind in game two to secure an 8-4 win.
Game One: UMF 7, UMA 6
Augusta jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single from Jacob Plamondon. But the Beavers wasted no time knotting the game up at one as sophomore outfielder Ike Wrigley (Farmington, Maine) led off the bottom half of the inning with his first collegiate home run to straight away center field.
A two-run third inning helped the Moose reclaim the lead. David Jinks delivered a one-out single in front of Plamondon who laced a triple to right, putting two in scoring position. Amar Douidi grounded out to plate Jinks and then an error allowed Plamondon to make it a 3-1 game.
Once again, the Beavers had the answer, scoring three in the bottom of the third to take their first lead of the game. Paul Vachon (Brookline, N.H.) delivered an RBI single to score Jameson Bloch (Attleboro, Mass.) who was hit by a pitch two batters earlier. Sam Parsell (Newington, Conn.) delivered a SAC fly to tie the game.
Later in the inning, with runners at the corners, Nate Coombs (Thomaston, Maine) stole second but Augusta’s catcher, Gage McGrane tried to throw behind Vachon at third base. The ball got by the third baseman allowing Vachon to come in to score and give the Beavers their first lead of the game.
Augusta reclaimed the lead in the fourth on a SAC fly from Jinks and a two-RBI double off the bat of Plamandon, opening up a 6-4 lead.
Wrigley delivered a SAC fly in the bottom half of the fourth and then scored in the sixth on an error, tying the game up at six.
The Beavers loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh when Bloch came to the plate with two down. Bloch lifted a lazy fly ball to straight away right that appeared to be the third out of the inning and sent the game into overtime. The ball was dropped and the winning run came into score to help Farmington secure the game one victory.
Bloch threw the first four innings, giving up all six Moose runs but just two of them were earned. TJ Dorn (Westbrook, Maine) threw the final three innings, yielding just two hits and striking out three to pick up his second win of the season. Matt Marquis (Monmouth, Maine), Ryan Sargent (Windham, Maine), and Vachon each had two hits to pace the Beavers offensively.
For the Moose, Tom Gust was charged with the loss, giving up the winning run, an unearned run in an inning of work out of the bullpen. Plamandon went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs to lead the offense.
Game Two: UMF 8, UMA 4
In the afternoon cap, UMaine-Farmington once again came from behind and this time did so convincingly, notching an 8-4 win to sweep the doubleheader.
The game was scoreless through the first two innings but the Moose got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third. Defensive woes for Farmington led to the game’s opening run as Cash Bizier reached on an error and then later scored on the second error of the inning.
A five-run fourth inning broke the game wide-open for the Beavers. Bloch laced a two-run double down the line in left to give chase home Cal Tibbitts (Bath, Maine) and Tyler Rosa (Morgan Hill, Calif.), giving the Beavers the 2-1 lead. A wild pitch brought home Wrigley and then Vachon delivered a two-run single to help Farmington open up a 5-1 advantage after four.
Plamondon continued to be a tough out, ripping a ground rule double down the line in left, chasing home Bizier. Later in the inning, another defensive miscue from Farmington allowed Plamandon to score and make it a 5-3 ballgame.
Farmington tacked on three runs in the bottom of the fifth to put the game away. Jackson Forrest (Portland, Maine) drilled a double to dead center to score Tibbetts and then later scored on an RBI single from Bloch. Sargent added an RBI knock to make it 8-3.
Augusta scored another unearned run in the 7th to make it 8-4 but was unable to draw any closer.
Farmington pounded out ten hits, led by Bloch Bachon, and Greyson Bell (Las Vegas, Nev.) who all finished with two. Bloch drove in three to carry much of the offensive load. Aaron Goschke (Gorham, Maine) picked up the win, tossing five innings, giving up three runs but just one earned and striking out three. After today, Goschke has now pitched against every Maine four-year institution in his career.
Plamondon once again led the way for the Moose, finishing with two hits and two runs. Bizier also finished with two hits and scored twice for Augusta. Gust picked up the loss once again, throwing two innings in relief, giving up five earned.
