MANSFIELD, Conn. -Â Junior
Ryan Qualey put together a signature performance Friday afternoon, delivering a complete game with five strikeouts, limiting second-seeded Rhode Island College to one unearned run as the fifth-seeded University of Massachusetts Dartmouth secured an upset win, 5-1, to advance to the Little East Conference (LEC) semifinal.
The Corsairs (17-22-1) have eliminated the Anchormen (29-10-1) from the LEC Tournament.
Junior
DJ Perron went 2-for-4 and smashed his second home run of the postseason and eighth of the season. Classmate
Andrew Bryant continued his torrid playoff run, going 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, while freshman
Devyn Vezina drove in a run as well.
The one run for Rhode Island College came in the top half of the third. Sophomore Izaiah Rivera singled with one out, and a Corsair throwing error advanced him to second. With two gone in the frame, an RBI single scored Rivera to make it a 1-0 Anchormen advantage.
UMass Dartmouth had a quick response with all five runs coming in the home half of the third. Sophomore
Matt Tempone got it started with a leadoff double and freshman
Chase Pariseau singled to move him to third. Vezina then sent a base hit to left to even the score at one, and a throwing error allowed Parisaeu to score from second to give the Corsairs the lead. Bryant then stepped up and doubled home senior
Chase Stafford, who reached on a fielder's choice. Perron then sent his long ball over the left field wall to make it a 5-1 lead.
It was all Qualey for the rest of the game. The Woburn, Mass. native shut down the Anchormen, working 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, sixth, and ninth to improve his record to 5-1 on the year.
UMass Dartmouth plays for the second time on Friday. This time in the LEC Semifinal against UMass Boston at 7 p.m.
