Baseball Falls Short in Comeback to Babson

DARTMOUTH, Mass. - Behind a combined nine-run effort in the final two innings, the Babson College baseball team posted a 16-10 victory over UMass Dartmouth in non-conference action on Monday evening. The Beavers move to 10-8 on the season, while the Corsairs slip to 11-9 overall.

The Beavers opened the game's scoring and opened up a 7-1 lead after four innings, but a two-run home run from senior shortstop DJ Perron in the bottom of the fifth inning, coupled with a three-run shot - both deep over the left field wall - from right fielder Chase Stafford, saw the Corsairs close the gap to 7-6 after six innings of action.

It was a quiet seventh inning, but the Beavers made a statement in the top of the eighth as Zander Teator walked and quickly stole second to set up a runner in scoring position. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home soon after as second baseman Tanner Santos singled to right. Santos stole second, which was followed by a walk to first baseman Chris Basile and the right fielder Ryan Hvozdovic then singled to right to set up a bases loaded situation.

A sac fly to right from third baseman Brant Savage drove in a run and an ensuing double to right by designated hitter Cole Collins brought in another run for a 10-6 lead. The catcher Michael O'Brien then drove a two-RBI single to center to make it a 12-6 game in favor of the visitors. 

The Corsairs were not able to get anything going in the bottom of the frame despite a pair of Babson errors leading to runners on the corners. In the top of the ninth, Santos walked and stole second once again as Basile singled to left. A walk to Hvozdovic set up bases loaded once more and a walk to Collins brought a run across.

Babson took advantage of a wild pitch as another run came in and a sac fly by left fielder Michael Cook, coupled with a double from O'Brien moved the Beavers into a 16-6 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Second baseman Devyn Vezina got things going for the Corsairs with a single to right center, followed by a single to left from Perron as a single to right from first baseman Andrew Bryant pushed the seventh run across for UMD. A single to right from catcher Matt Tempone scored another run and a two-run single by left fielder Chris Kustigian made it 16-10. Despite the momentum, the Corsairs were unable to pull it closer as the final two batters fouled and flied out to end the game.

Babson's Connor Doan earned the win, going 5.2 innings as he allowed six runs (3 earned) on six hits with two strikeouts. The Beavers saw four pitchers come in after Doan, including Kyle Wolff, who pitched the final 0.2 innings against UMD with no runs or hits allowed.

For the Corsairs, rookie Aidan O'Donnell shouldered the loss allowing six runs (four earned) on three hists over 3.0 innings of work. He struck out three batters. Junior Will Pacheco was one of five relievers for the Corsairs, allowing just one run on two hits with a strikeout over 3.0 innings pitched. 

UMD returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Eastern Connecticut State University for a key Little East doubleheader beginning at 12pm.