Two Out Rally: Seawolves Pass Wolverines in Top 7

BRIDGTON, MAINE - Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) baseball battled back from a four-run deficit to defeat Bridgton Academy, 6-4, Monday evening at Bridgton Academy on March 30, 2026. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Seawolves threatened early in the first inning when Tyler Herkalo (Parkton, Md.) tripled with one out, but Bridgton Academy starter Maddox Kinney worked out of trouble to keep the game scoreless. 

Southern Maine continued to battle through a pitchers' duel over the opening four innings as Garrett McLeod (Winterport, Maine) matched zeros with the Wolverines. McLeod stranded runners in the first and third, and the Seawolves stayed within striking distance despite being held off the scoreboard. 

Bridgton Academy broke through in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to take a 4-0 lead. Solly Flores delivered a two-run double to left, and Jack Foley followed with a two-run single to right. 

SMCC answered in the top of the seventh with a two out six-run rally. Quinntin Gillies (Oshawa, Ontario) started the inning by reaching on a walk, and Tristan Laplante (Durham, Maine) followed with a single. After Noah Gaghan (Brunswick, Maine) drew a walk and Connor Boulette (Westbrook, Maine) lifted a sacrifice fly to get SMCC on the board, Kyle Brown (Biddeford, Maine) worked another walk to keep the inning alive. 

With the bases loaded, Herkalo delivered the biggest swing of the night, ripping a double to center that scored three runs and tied the game. After stealing third, Herkalo came home as Gillies lined a two-run single to left later in the inning, giving SMCC a 6-4 lead. 

On the mound, Jacob Watkinson (Owls Head, Maine) earned the win with a scoreless sixth inning, striking out two. Aidan Dolan (Weymouth, Mass.) picked up the save after work in the seventh inning with two strikeouts. McLeod kept Southern Maine in the game with five innings of work before the late comeback. 

PITCHERS OF RECORD:

Win: Jacob Watkinson (1-0) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Loss: Solomon Small (0-1) – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 BB, 1 K
Save: Aidan Dolan (1) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K 

LEADING HITTERS:

SMCC:
Tyler Herkalo (2-for-3, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, R)
Quinntin Gillies (1-for-3, 2 RBI, R)
Tristan Laplante (1-for-4, R)
Noah Gaghan (2 BB)
Kyle Brown (BB, R) 

ON DECK:

The Seawolves remain on the road on Wednesday, April 1st to face NHTI in Concord at 3:30PM. The Northern Essex game on Tuesday 3/31/26 is postponed due to weather.