Box Score WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore Greg Heineman (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Reg.) produced a run-scoring single to left field in the bottom of the ninth to lift Brandeis University to a 4-3 walk-off victory over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth baseball team this afternoon at Stein Diamond.
In a back and forth affair over the final three innings, the Judges (10-12) used their final at-bats to extend their three-game winning streak. With one out in the final frame, sophomore Connor Doyle (Avon, Conn./Avon Old Farms) created the decisive run with a single to left field before moving into scoring possession on a ground ball out to the right side of the diamond. Heineman provided the key hit to left field to score Doyle from second.
The Corsairs (8-11) utilized some late game heroics to force Brandeis into its final at-bats. Trailing 3-2, freshman Evan Eldridge (Danvers, Mass.) laced the first pitch he saw into left field. Senior Wayne Bolz (Billerica, Mass./Billerica Memorial) was summoned from the dugout to pinch run and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. With the tying run in scoring position, the Judges turned to sophomore Ryan Healy (Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon) to close out the non-conference contest. Healy was able to retire the first batter he faced, but junior Ryan Medeiros (Acushnet, Mass./New Bedford) forged a 3-all tie with a double into the right centerfield gap.
After threatening to score in the fifth inning, the visitors were finally able to break through in the seventh. Junior Nate Farias (Fall River, Mass./Durfee) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a double by classmate Ben Monteiro (Swansea, Mass./Joseph Case). Brandeis was almost able to get out of the jam without any damage, but sophomore Mariano Suriel (Brookline, Mass.) laced a two-run single to left field to draw UMD even at 2-all.
Junior George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) led the UMass Dartmouth offensive attack with a 3-for-4 performance from the plate. Five other Corsairs recorded one base knock to complete the eight-hit attack.
UMass Dartmouth received its third consecutive quality start as sophomore Matt Russell (Townsend, Mass.) allowed two runs over seven innings of work. Russell pitched effectively to contact, scattering six hits and four walks. Junior Ethan Kelley (New Bedford, Mass./Bishop Stang) gave up one run on two hits, while freshman Ted Savage (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth South) was saddled with the loss.
Junior Elio Fernandez (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) was just as brilliant as Russell, throwing a seven-hitter in 8.1 innings of work. Fernandez limited the visitors to seven hits and three runs before giving way to Healy. Healy was credited with the victory after giving up the double to Medeiros in the ninth.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, when the Corsairs host Salve Regina University.
