Box Score QUINCY, Mass. – Freshman Ervin Kantardzic (Roslindale, Mass.) registered a career-high four hits, including a grand slam in the fourth inning, and junior Matt Russell (Townsend, Mass.) converted his first save of the season as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth outlasted Suffolk University, 14-13, this afternoon in a NCAA Division III baseball contest at Adams Field.
Kantardzic reached safely in all five of his official at-bats with three singles, a grand slam, and a walk to lead the Corsairs' (21-14) nine-hit attack. The rookie outfielder also drove in a season-high five runs and scored twice. Freshman Brandon Polignone (Peabody, Mass.) and classmate Josh O'Neill (Halifax, Mass.) each recorded a base knock as the bottom of the order produced six hits. The visitors drew a total of nine walks in addition to a pair of hit baseman, while also taking advantage of five Ram defensive miscues.
UMass Dartmouth built an 8-0 advantage after four full innings. The visitors scored a pair of runs in the third, when senior Ryan Medeiros (Acushnet, Mass.) delivered a RBI single and the Corsairs took home on a first and third play. UMass Dartmouth exploded for six runs in the fourth frame, highlighted by Kantardzic's first collegiate home run.
However, Suffolk pushed across eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to knot the contest at 9-all. Junior Drew Carter (Newburyport, Mass.) registered the Rams' third extra base hit of the inning, a bases-clearing triple to draw the ballgame even.
UMass Dartmouth quickly regained its advantage in the ensuing frame, scoring five times on three hits. Mederios ignited the surge with a walk and stole second. Classmate George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) put the visitors back on top with a RBI single. The Corsairs scored two runs on an errant throw before Kantardzic recorded his fourth and final hit, a RBI single. He would later score Ram defensive miscue.
The hosts continued to chip away at their deficit, plating a run in the bottom of the eight. Suffolk refused to go quietly in its final at-bat. Freshman Brady Chant (Warwick, R.I.) ripped a two-run single cut the deficit to 14-13. However, Russell escaped the bases-loaded jam by recording a foul out and ground ball to the shortstop to preserve the victory.
Junior David Tarr (Easton, Mass.) started for UMass Dartmouth, allowing six hits and six runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings of work. Freshman Benjamin Lodge (Blackstone, Mass.) earned the win (4-0), giving up five hits and four runs (one earned) in 1 2/3 innings.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at noon on Friday, May 1, when the Corsairs travel to Little East Conference frontrunner Southern Maine for doubleheader. The Huskies currently sit one-game ahead of the Corsairs and Rhode Island College.
