DARTMOUTH, Mass. — The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth overcame a 6-1 second-inning deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth, but Rhode Island College scored the decisive run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning to edge the Corsairs 8-7 this afternoon in a Little East Conference contest at UMassD Baseball Field.
UMass Dartmouth lost for the second straight time to slip to 7-11 overall and 5-7 in the conference circuit, while Rhode Island College captured its 10 consecutive victory to improve to 16-8 and 8-3 in LEC play. The Anchormen sealed the season series this afternoon with a 3-0 mark against the Corsairs.
Rhode Island College scored three runs in the first and second innings to race out to a 6-1 lead. Senior
Zack DelVecchio (Braintree, Mass.), who was summoned from the bullpen with the bases loaded and one out in the second, stymied the Anchormen attack by tossing four hitless innings and registering four of his five strikeouts to keep the hosts within striking distance.
UMass Dartmouth began its rally in the bottom of the third when senior
JR DiSarcina (Barnstable, Mass.) was hit by pitch and classmate
Erick Ramirez (Boston, Mass.) doubled down the left field line. Senior
Mike Knell (Dennis, Mass.) recorded his second RBI of the afternoon with a single to left field. Sophomore
DJ Perron (Swansea, Mass.) followed with a RBI single to the pitcher. With runners at second and third with one out, senior
Mitch Baker (Braintree, Mass.) lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to whittle the deficit to 6-4.
The Corsairs continued to mount their comeback in the seventh, when DiSarcina singled to right center field to advance first-year
Matthew Klett (Barnstable, Mass.) to third. Klett showed off speed by scoring on a passed ball that was muffed by the catcher.
Rhode Island College tacked on an insurance run in the eight as first-year Cameron Santerre (Bristol, R.I.) scored from second on a fielding error to extend the visitors lead to 7-5. Unfazed, UMass Dartmouth utilized a two-out rally to respond with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Senior
Tucker Hetherman (Webster, Mass.) ignited the surge with a single back through the box. Pinch runner
Nick Cote (Londonderry N.H.) stole second and scored on senior
Nate Stewart's (Newnan, Ga.) pinch-hit RBI single. Sophomore
Andrew Bryant (Canton, Mass.) hit a double through the shortstop hole that was vacated and classmate
Adam Horowitz (Seekonk, Mass.) scored all the way from first base when an outfielder bobbled the ball to forge a 7-all tie.
First-year Cal Parrillo (Greenville, R.I.) led off the ninth with a single to right center field and advanced to second on a passed ball. UMass Dartmouth looked to turn a double play on Perron's outfield assist at third, but Parrillo was ruled safe on a controversial call. Parrillo raced home on a wild pitch with two outs for the eventual game-winning run.
Rhode Island College first-year Terry Murphy (Norfolk, Mass.) held the Corsairs to six runs, five earned, on nine hits, while striking out five in 7.2 innings but did not factor into the decision. Junior Shaun Gamelin (West Kingston, R.I.) (2-0) was unable to record the four-out save, but earned the win.
UMass Dartmouth graduate student
Robbie Carrillo (Melrose, Mass.) (3-3) was the tough-luck loser as he gave up a hit and run in one inning of work. Senior
Logan Maitland (Tiverton, R.I.) bridged the gap to the back end of the bullpen by allowing an unearned run on just two hits in two innings.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 3:30pm on Wednesday, April 28, when the Corsairs travel to Rhode Island College.
