Box Score NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – Junior Taylor Cacciola (West Greenwich, R.I.) jacked a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to put the cap on a 6-1 season-opening win for UMass Dartmouth baseball over Worcester State at the New England Baseball Complex (NEBC) on Tuesday afternoon.
UMass Dartmouth connected for 10 hits from eight different Corsairs, with sophomores Kenneth Michael (Norwood, Mass.) and freshman Jack Harrington (Barnstable, Mass.) each going 2-for-4 at the plate. Cacciola was responsible for three of the Corsairs' five RBI, with Michael and Harrington each driving in one.
Four Corsairs split time on the mound, as senior Steve Colella (Leominster, Mass.) earned the win as the starter. In two innings of work, he allowed just four hits and one earned run while striking out two. Junior Sean Callahan (Colchester, Vt.) tossed three innings, allowing just one hit while fanning two, and senior Aaron Chouinard (Swansea, Mass.) fanned four in a trio of innings in relief. Sophomore Matt Cronin (Framingham, Mass.) closed the game with a strikeout in one inning.
Scoring began in the second frame, with UMass Dartmouth posting two on the board. Mackenzie Curran (Lakeville, Mass.), Michael and Harrington registered three-straight doubles to score the first two. The Lancers gained one back during their turn at the plate as Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.) drove in junior Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, Mass.) on a double.
The Corsairs generated two more runs in the fifth inning following a triple off the bat of freshman Erick Ramirez-Tejeda (Boston, Mass.). Ramirez then scored on a balk during the next batter. Sophomore Josh O'Neill (Halifax, Mass.) then singled, scoring when a throwing error sent Cacciola to first.
Cacciola then shut the door two innings later, sending O'Neill home again on a blast to dead center field.
For the Lancers, junior Zach Zona (Auburn, Mass.) took the loss, pitching six frames while allowing eight runs in the midst of striking out two.
UMass Dartmouth journeys south for its spring break trip beginning on Saturday and will face seven opponents from around the country at the RussMatt Invitational in Auburndale, Fla, including No. 11 Wisc.-Stevens Point and No. 15 Ramapo.
