Umaine Baseball’s 18-inning Ecac Tourney Win In 1983 Was One For The Ages

It seemed like the night would never end. It was May 12, 1983. The University of Maine baseball team was playing Providence College in the ECAC New England Tournament at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The first game is critical because losing the opener in a four-team, double-elimination affair means you have to win four consecutive games to capture the title and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Black Bears ace righty Billy Swift of South Portland took the mound and threw 197 pitches in 13 innings.