DAVENPORT, Fla. – Powered by a single from senior second baseman
Devyn Vezina in the bottom of the seventh, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team edged the University of St. Joseph (CT), 4-3 in RussMatt Tournament action. The Corsairs move to 2-4, while the BlueJays are now 1-5.
The Corsairs opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the second as senior third baseman
Andrew Possi came home on a single from rookie shortstop
Cooper Wixon. After stealing second, Wixon stole third base before reaching home on a throwing error by the BlueJays for a 2-0 advantage.
In the top of the third, St. Joseph retaliated as sophomore designated hitter Ethan Reemsnyde reached on a hit by pitch. Junior first baseman Ryan Shaw dropped a double into center field as sophomore third baseman Dom Scalia's sacrifice fly brought in the runner for a 2-1 score. Rookie right fielder Joseph Fritz reached on a throwing error, allowing Shaw to advance home and tie the game at 2-2.
Heading into the bottom half of the inning, senior catcher
T.J. Keefe got on after being hit by a pitch. Once on, he stole second and soon after advanced to third on a fly out to right field by graduate right fielder
Joe Muzio. Junior first baseman
Jake SanAntonio was next to the plate, singling to left to score Keefe for the 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Corsairs pushed another run across for a 4-2 advantage. Wixon earned the walk to reach base, later stealing second. A single to left from Vezina brought home the runner.
The BlueJays got one back in the top of the eighth as Fritz homered to left field, but in the ninth rookie
Jacob Rosati came on to close out the side and give UMass Dartmouth its second win of 2024.
Wixon went 1-for-2 on the afternoon with an RBI and two runs scored. Keefe was 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Vezina had a hit with an RBI. On the mound, junior hurler
Nick Pappas earned the victory, allowing just one hit with one run allowed. He struck out seven batters over 4.0 innings of work, surrendering just one walk. Rosati earned the save, giving up just one hit in the top of the ninth.
For the BlueJays, sophomore shortstop JJ Fox went 2-for-4, while Fritz was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Junior pitcher Chase Swain shouldered the loss, allowing three runs (1 earned) on four hits over 6.0 innings. He struck out nine, while walking one. Rookie Alec Ash came on for the final 2.0 innings of relief, surrendering one run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.
The Corsairs return to action on Monday, taking on Emerson College at 7:45pm in Davenport.
