Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Eastern Connecticut State University scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally past the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 4-2 this afternoon in Game 9 of the 2015 Little East Conference Championship tournament at the USM Baseball Stadium.
The second-seeded Corsairs end the season with an overall record of 25-17, matching the 2004 squad (25-15) for the most single-season victories since 1998. UMass Dartmouth's seven seniors—George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.), Cory DeMedeiros (Fall River, Mass.), Nate Farias (Fall River, Mass.), Ryan Medeiros (Acushnet, Mass.), Ben Monteiro (Swansea, Mass.), and Alex Newton (Saco, Maine)—led the Corsairs to a combined record of (78-85). The Class of 2015 posted consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 2003 and 2004, boasting a combined mark of 46-39 (.541).
UMass Dartmouth snapped a scoreless pitcher's duel in the top of the third inning, when Medeiros singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a ground out to the right-side of the infield. Agostini laced an RBI-single into left field to give the "visitors" a 1-0 advantage.
The Warriors (22-16) responded in the bottom half of the frame with a walk and three consecutive singles. Chad Adams found the hole between the third baseman and shortstop to even the ballgame. The Corsairs were able to escape a one-out, bases-loaded jam by cutting down the potential go-ahead run at the plate on a fielder's choice and a ground out to the shortstop.
Eastern Connecticut threatened to take its first lead in the bottom of the fifth, but UMass Dartmouth induced a 6-4-3 ground ball double play to strand runners at second and third.
The Corsairs regained their advantage in the sixth, when Vasquez singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Jack Harrington (Barnstable, Mass.) hit a two-out RBI double into the right centerfield gap to easily plate Vasquez.
Junior David Tarr (Easton, Mass.) effectively worked around a hit-by-pitch and a defensive miscue to depart with the 2-1 lead after six strong innings. The southpaw allowed seven hits, including six singles, one run, and a walk, while striking out two batters.
In the eighth, Adams drew a lead-off walk and scored on DJ Scavone double to centerfield to forge the 2-all tie and end junior Matt Russell's (Townsend, Mass.) outing. Freshman Matt Cronin (Framingham, Mass.) recorded the first out of the inning on a sacrifice bunt that advanced Scavone to third. Scavone scored on a controversial balk to give the Warriors' the eventual game-winning run. Eastern Connecticut tacked on an insurance run with a two-out single.
UMass Dartmouth would not go quietly in its final at-bat as Harrington and pinch hitter Taylor Cacciola (West Greenwich, R.I.) each worked a one-out walk. Warrior starter Tyler Cyr was lifted in favor of All-New England Region closer Adam Merritt. Merritt extinguished the threat by inducing a 6-4-3 ground ball, double play to collect his third save of the season.
Cyr (2-2) allowed seven hits, two runs, and three walks, while recording a strike out in 8 1/3 innings.
Fifth-seeded Eastern Connecticut (22-16) advanced to the championship round to face top-seed and host University of Southern Maine (30-12) tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. The Warriors need to defeat the Huskies twice in order to defend their 2014 championship crown.
