Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. – A solo home run in the top of the 10th inning from freshman Jake Frasca (Darien, Conn.) proved to be the difference, as the Suffolk Rams defeated the Corsairs 3-2 in non-conference action Thursday afternoon at UMass Dartmouth. The Corsairs drop to 14-18 on the year, while the Rams improve to 29-9.
Suffolk got on the scoreboard in the top half of the third inning when sophomore Brady Chant (Warwick, R.I.) singled through the left side of the infield to score Sean Cameron (Milford, Conn.) from second.
UMass Dartmouth would answer in the bottom of the fifth inning, when freshman Erick Ramirez (Boston, Mass.) dropped in a base hit to left field and scored sophomore Jose Vasquez (Roxbury, Mass.) from second. In the bottom of the seventh, the Corsairs threatened to score on a base hit to right field off the bat of Ervin Kantardzic (Roslindale, Mass.), but Vasquez got cut down at the plate upon trying to score from second.
The Rams would use the momentum that they gathered in the bottom of the seventh to gain back control in the top of the eighth. Freshman Zach Grogan (Morristown, N.J.) snuck a single up the middle with the bases loaded to score one run and give the lead back to Suffolk.
The Corsairs would tie the game once again, when sophomore Kenny Michael (Norwood, Mass.) lifted a fly ball to center field, deep enough to score Josh O'Neill (Halifax, Mass.) from third.
After a scoreless ninth and two outs in the 10th, Frasca sent the 2-1 offering from senior Matt Russell (Townsend, Mass.) over the left center fence, despite a solid effort by freshman centerfielder DeVon King (Carver, Mass.), giving the Rams the 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the 10th with two outs, freshman Ryan Ainslie (Weymouth, Mass.) drew a walk before stealing second base. This set the stage for junior Taylor Cacciola (West Greenwich, R.I.), who ripped the 3-1 pitch down the right field line, but the ball was snagged by the Suffolk first baseman.
Russell took the loss for the Corsairs after pitching the 10th inning and allowing two hits. Sophomore Michael Theriault (Boston, Mass.) got the start, allowing one run on six hits over 6 innings of work. The seventh, eighth, and ninth were pitched by Benjamin Lodge (Blackstone, Mass.), David Tarr (Easton, Mass.) and Matt Cronin (Framingham, Mass.) respectively. The trio gave up two runs, on six hits over three innings while striking out five.
Senior Cal Carroll (Methuen, Mass.) collected the win for the Rams, after throwing both the ninth and the 10th of shutout baseball. Carroll took over for fellow senior Kyle Turner (Nashua, N.H.) who threw eight innings and yielding the Corsairs to two runs on six hits.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action for their home finale on Saturday when they host Little East Conference foe Eastern Connecticut for a double header, starting at 12pm. Suffolk University will close out the regular season when they travel to take on GNAC opponent Albertus Magnus on Saturday for a twin bill.
