Box Score NORTHBORO, Mass. – There was no shortage in offense as UMass Dartmouth blasted four home runs to defeat Framingham State 20-9 Tuesday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex in non-conference action. The Corsairs improve to 5-4, while Framingham falls to 2-4 on the year.
Sophomore Ervin Kantardzic (Roxbury, Mass.) had a career day on the field. The sophomore outfielder went 3-for-6 at the plate, hitting two homers and driving in six RBI, both career highs. Five additional Corsairs registered multiple hits at the dish, including sophomore Jose Vasquez (Roxbury, Mass.), who also posted a 3-for-6 day with four RBI.
The 20-run total for the Corsairs is the most since May 10, 2013 when they put up 21 against UMass Boston during the Little East Conference playoffs.
The Rams got on the board first, scoring two in the bottom of the first. The first run crossed the plate when senior RJ Gray (Lowell, Mass.) doubled to center field scoring classmates Jake Wardwell (Hudson, Mass.) and Ryan Connelly (West Roxbury, Mass.).
The Corsairs would answer back in the top half of the second. Freshman Ryan Ainslie (Weymouth, Mass.) reached base on a four-pitch walk, followed by DeVon King (Carver, Mass.) reaching on a fielder's choice to score sophomore Jack Harrington (Barnstable, Mass.) from third.
Kartandzic led off the third with a double to left field, scoring when freshman Erick Ramirez (Boston, Mass.) hit his second home run on the season to left field.
The Corsairs exploded for six runs in the top of the fourth inning. A wild pitch would score Ainslie from third, and sophomore Josh O'Neill (Halifax, Mass.) would advance to second. Kantardzic then sent his first homer of the game over the left field fence, plating O'Neill. The Corsairs would tack on three more runs before the end of their at-bat.
Framingham State cut into the UMass Dartmouth lead in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Manny Powers (Malden, Mass.) hit the first pitch he saw over the fence in left center field. The Rams would add on four more runs to end the frame.
The Corsairs would answer back with seven runs in the top half of the sixth inning. With three runs already on the board for the inning, Kantardzic connected for his second long ball of the game, this time sending a grand slam over the fence with just one out. The grand slam marks the first for Kantardzic on his career and the first for UMass Dartmouth this season.
The visitors' offense continued to be too much for the Rams pitching staff. In the top of the eighth O'Neill hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score King from third. The next inning, Vasquez would knock his first collegiate home run to left field, sending home both Harrington and junior Taylor Cacciola (West Greenwich, R.I.).
Four UMass Dartmouth pitcher shared time on the mound. Senior David Tarr (Easton, Mass.) picked up the win for the Corsairs after going 2.2 innings in relief, striking out six while allowing one run on four hits.
Senior Dillon Corliss (Winterport, Maine) was credited with the loss for the Rams. Despite allowing nine runs and scattering six hits in five innings, Corliss struck out eight Corsairs on the afternoon.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they host Johnson & Wales (R.I.) on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
