DARTMOUTH, Mass. - Powered by a two-hit, two-RBI performance from junior second baseman
Devyn Vezina, the UMass Dartmouth Baseball team drew even with Eastern Nazarene College, 7-7 in 10 innings. The Corsairs move to 8-11-1 overall, while the Lions move to 3-12-1 overall.
The Corsairs struck first with two runs in the first inning. With sophomore hurler
Seamus Marshall on the mound, UMD held a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Corsairs added to their lead in the fourth, beginning with a one-out single from sophomore outfielder Matt Klett. Klett stole second base before a two-out double off the bat of sophomore outfielder
Brett Baker brought him in. Baker was able to score himself on a Vezina double down the left field line, giving UMass Dartmouth a 5-1 lead through four innings.
Eastern Nazarene responded in the fifth inning, as they were able to even up the score after a four-run fifth. The Lions' best inning from the plate was highlighted by a two-RBI single from senior infielder Anderson Jiminez, followed by an RBI double from junior infielder Francis Ferguson. The Lions took the lead after another two runs came in during the top of the seventh.
The Corsairs found themselves trailing by one as the weather worsened in the later innings. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Vezina was the leadoff batter and was struck by a pitch, before being advanced to second on a Lions balk. Vezina was moved over to third base on a groundout, setting up senior third baseman
Andrew Possi, who hit a long sacrifice fly to center field to bring in the tying run.
In the tenth inning, senior pitcher
Kevin Moszkowicz came in and was able to get out of trouble with two strikeouts to end the inning. The Corsairs threatened in the bottom of the tenth, leaving a runner stranded on third after the final out. The umpire called the game after 10 innings with the score tied at 7-7 as they were losing light and the conditions were worsening.
Marshall had the heaviest workload from the mound for UMD, going 5.0 innings where he allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits with two strikeouts. Senior reliever
Chase Carey had a great inning of work in the sixth, allowing one hit and striking out three batters.
UMD was led by Vezina, who was 2-for-4 from the plate with two RBI's and two runs scored. Baker went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Klett went 2-for-5 and scored once.
UMass Dartmouth baseball is back at it tomorrow, hosting a doubleheader against Suffolk. Both games are scheduled for just 7-innings, with game one's first pitch scheduled for 11:00am.
