Gorham, Maine – Southern Maine scored four runs in the eighth inning of game one, and rode that momentum into two wins over the UMass Dartmouth baseball team on Monday. The Huskies (4-12, 2-2 LEC) posted a 6-4 win in game one, and notched a 6-2 victory over the Corsairs (11-8, 2-2 LEC) in game two.
The Corsairs rallied four runs in the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead in game one, before the Huskies responded with four of their own in the bottom of the eighth. Southern Maine's eighth inning offense began with two walked batters before senior Brogan Searle-Belanger loaded the bases up with an infield single, setting up his classmate Tom Vesosky, who knocked home two runners on a single to right field. UMD sophomore Andrew Steinhubel intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases again with the score tied at 4-4. It was USM freshman Kyle Douin who knocked home the two eventual game-winning runs on a single to the right side.
After the Corsairs were unable to make up the two-run difference in the top of the ninth, game one concluded with the Huskies on top, 6-4. Southern Maine was led offensively by Visosky, who went 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBI's and two runs scored. Douin also notched two hits with two RBI's. Searle-Belanger had a game-high three hits and scored twice. Earning the win and pitching the complete game for the Huskies was junior Bryce Afthim (2-2).
The Corsairs saw multi-hit games from senior DJ Perron and freshman Brett Baker. Perron's hits came with two RBI's. Sophomore Devyn Vezina also knocked home a run. Shouldering the loss on the mound was Steinhubel (3-2). The Corsairs also got six innings from senior Ryan Qualey, who started the game.
Southern Maine's momentum carried into game two, when they took the game's first lead with two runs in the third. After Baker's triple set himself up to score on Vezina's groundout in the top of the fourth to bring it back to 2-1 in favor of the Huskies. But USM would strike again in the seventh and eight innings, adding two more runs in each to extend their lead to 6-1.
In the ninth inning, Baker crossed the plate once again for the Corsairs thanks to Andrew Possi's (junior) double down the left field line. UMD was unable to cut any further into the lead as they fell, 6-2 in game two.
Offensively, Baker led the way with a triple, a walk, and scoring both of the Corsairs' runs. Possi and Vezina each tallied an RBI. Shouldering the loss on the mound and his first of the season was sophomore Adam Maher (2-1). In six innings Maher faced 24 batters, struck out 11 and allowed just one earned run.
For Southern Maine, Douin led the way with three hits and two RBI's. Vesosky had another nice game with two hits and two RBI's and scored once. Sophomore Donato Tocci scored twice while adding a hit and an RBI. Earning the win was their starter, Clay Robbins (sophomore), who went eight innings. Coming in for the save was junior Matt Burnett.
UMass Dartmouth baseball is back in action on Monday when they host Babson College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 PM.
