BOSTON —Senior
Mike Knell (Dennis, Mass.) launched a three-run home run over the left field fence in the seventh inning to erase a two-run deficit and graduate student
Robbie Carrillo (Melrose, Mass.) shut down University of Massachusetts Boston over the final 3.2 innings as University of Massachusetts Dartmouth rallied to defeat the Beacons 7-5 this afternoon in the first game of a Little East Conference doubleheader at Monan Park.
UMass Boston snapped a 4-all tie in the bottom of the seventh with six runs to capture the nightcap 12-7 and salvage a split. The Corsairs moved to 7-10 on the campaign, including a 5-6 mark in the conference, while UMass Boston evened its record at 3-3.
Senior
Jose Vasquez (Roxbury, Mass.) went a combined 6-for-8 at the plate with a run scored and two RBI during the conference twinbill.
GAME 1 | UMass Dartmouth 7, UMass Boston 5
UMass Dartmouth struck first in its initial at-bat, when senior
Erick Ramirez (Boston, Mass.) hit a solo home run to left field. It was Ramirez's third round-tripper of the season. The Corsairs extended their advantage in the fourth as Vasquez drove in a run with a triple to right field. Vasquez increased the visitors lead to 3-1 in the sixth with an RBI single up the middle.
UMass Boston scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take its only lead of the contest. The Beacons strung together three consecutive hits, including an RBI single through the box, to cut their deficit to 3-2. The hosts tied the contest on a fielder's choice and scored on an errant throw to take their first lead of the ball game, 4-3. UMass Boston chased the UMassD relief pitcher with a single to right field to cap the surge. UMass Dartmouth summoned Carrillo from the bullpen and he was able to record the final two outs to escape the jam.
The Corsairs regained their advantage in the top of the seventh as the Beacons issued a pair of walks to put two runners on. Knell delivered the decisive three-run shot, his team leading sixth of the season, with two outs to give UMass Dartmouth a lead they would relinquish. The Corsairs tacked on an insurance run in the eight on a junior
Tyler Lyons (Wallingford, Conn.) double down the left field line.
Carrillo (3-2) was dominant in his eighth appearance of the season, working 3.2 hitless innings in relief to capture the win. He struck out four and walk one on 43 total pitches.
GAME 2 | UMass Boston 12, UMass Dartmouth 7
Graduate student
Mitch Baker (Braintree, Mass.) matched his season-high with four hits, including a solo home run in the second, and drove in three runs to lead the Corsair offense. Vasquez recorded his second consecutive three-hit game and sophomore
DJ Perron (Swansea, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with a walk.
UMass Dartmouth overcame a 4-2 deficit in the seventh inning when three consecutive batters doubled. Baker ripped a double to centerfield to plate Perron and senior
Tucker Hetherman (Webster, Mass.) followed suit with an RBI double to left centerfield.
UMass Boston responded in the bottom half of the inning by sending 10 batters to the plate to score six runs on five hits, two walks, and a hit batsman. Senior Chris Tirone (Waltham, Mass.) ripped a two-run homer to right field to give the Beacons a 6-4 lead. Sophomore Aiden Blake (Lakeville, Mass.) registered his third RBI of the contest with a single to left centerfield. Classmate Chris Ducko (Dedham, Mass.) capped the decisive inning with a two-run triple down the right field line to put UMass Boston ahead 10-4.
Senior
Dean Streich (North Kingstown, R.I.) (0-1) suffered the loss, giving up five runs on five hits and a pair of walks in just a third of an inning.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 3:30pm on Tuesday, April 27, when the Corsairs host Little East Conference rival Rhode Island College (15-8, 7-3 LEC).
