Maine in the College World Series 1964 College World Series W 5-1 vs. Seton Hall L 0-12 vs. Minnesota W 4-2 vs. Arizona State W 2-1 vs. Southern Cal L 1-2 vs. Missouri 1976 College World Series L 2-3 vs. Eastern Michigan W 9-8 vs. Auburn W 6-3 vs. Washington State L 0-7 vs. Arizona State 1981 College World Series L 1-6 vs. Miami (Fla.) L 7-12 vs. South Carolina 1982 College World Series L 2-7 vs. Miami (Fla.) W 6-0 vs. Cal State-Fullerton W 8-5 vs. Stanford L 4-10 vs. Miami (Fla.) 1983 College World Series L 5-6 vs. Michigan L 0-7 vs. Arizona State 1984 College World Series L 5-9 vs. Oklahoma State L 7-13 vs. Miami (Fla.) 1986 College World Series L 7-8 vs. Arizona L 4-8 vs. Lousiana State
23 straight contests. The host Black Bears won the ECAC Tournament then entertained several national baseball powers in the Northeast Regional in Orono. Maine fought back from the losers’ bracket to meet eventual Northeast Regional Champion Clemson in the finale. Despite returning from the southern swing with wins over nationally-ranked Oklahoma State, Louisiana State and S.W. Louisiana in 1992, Maine suffered its first losing season since 1963. The Black Bears lost six in a row on the northern part of its schedule before warming up with 10 wins and a tie in the next 15 games. In 1993, Maine returned to its winning ways with its third North Atlantic Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance in four years. The Black Bears swept through the first annual NAC postseason tournament and played in the Central II Regional at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Maine suffered losing seasons in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 due in part to a demanding southern swing forcing Maine to start the season with a combined mark of 12-76 over those five years. The Black Bears went on to post a 95-83 record in games up north over that span, including a 64-57 league mark. The 1996–97 year brought change to the UMaine program as Paul Kostacopoulos, a Big East Coach of the Year at Providence College, assumed the reigns of the program. Under Kostacopoulos, Maine began to see its baseball fortunes take a turn for the better as the program closed out one century and began another. The 1999 season brought the Black Bears back to a .500 mark with a 28-28 record, while the 2000 squad finished the season 25-24 – giving Maine its first winning season since 1993. The 2001 season saw the Black
Bears crack the 30-win barrier for the first time in eight years, as they finished 36-15 after beginning the season with eight-straight victories. It also gave the program back-toback winning seasons for the first time since the 1990 and 1991 campaigns. During each of those three seasons, the Black Bears produced the America East Rookie of the Year and a Freshman AllAmerican. Kostacopoulos twice earned America East Coach of the Year honors, in 1997 and 2001. Maine found itself atop the New England Regional poll throughout the entire 2001 season, and was named the top collegiate program in New England at the conclusion of the season. In 2002, Maine returned to the NCAA Regional Tournament for the first time since 1993 and posted its fourth 40-win season in school’s history. The Black Bears also won the America East Conference title. Neither of those accomplishments had been made since 1993. In 2003, the Black Bears fell just short of a second-straight NCAA berth, but placed five on the America East First Team, two on the Second Team, two on the All-Rookie Team and saw Greg Norton named America East Rookie of the Year in addition to being named a Freshman All-American. Three players earned All-New England honors while Mike Collar was named to the ABCA/ Rawlings All-Northeast Region Second Team. In 2004, Maine finished tied for second in the America East regular season standing. Maine hosted the 2004 America East Championship and fell to Stony Brook in the Championship game. Aaron Izaryk and Joe Hough were named to the America East First Team, while Mike MacDonald and Greg Creek garnered America East Second Team honors. In 2005, Maine finished tied for second in the America East regular season standing. Aaron Izaryk was named to the America East First Team, while Greg Creek, Ryan Quintal and Steve Richard were all named to the America East Second Team. Curt Smith earned All-Rookie honors.
The Black Bears won the 2011 America East Title and returned to the NCAA Regional.
Fans filled Mahaney Diamond in 1984 to watch their Black Bears play in the NCAA Northeast Regional.
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