WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Backed by big offensive efforts throughout the game, including a seven-run first inning, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team defeated Russell Sage College, 14-10 in non-conference action on Monday at Chain O'Lakes Park. The Corsairs move to 2-4 on the season, while the Gators are now 3-3 overall. Additionally, the victory marked the 250th win of head coach
Bob Prince's career since he took over the program in 2012.
The visiting Gators opened the scoring in the top of the first as with two outs on the board, graduate student right fielder James Lubanski sent a home run over the left field wall off Corsairs starter
Ryan Jackson for the 1-0 advantage.
UMass Dartmouth answered in the bottom of the frame as senior left fielder
Liam Blesi singled to drive in graduate designated hitter
Joe Muzio, who doubled to get things going. Graduate first baseman
Matt Tempone followed with a single to left, putting runners on the corner as senior third baseman
Jake San Antonio pushed it to a 2-1 lead, singling to center to bring home Blesi. Next up, sophomore catcher
Ryan Jones sent a grounder to second, reaching on an error to load the bases with one out on the board.
The Corsairs took advantage of a Gators error once again in the next at-bat as sophomore shortstop
Cooper Wixon sent a hard ball toward short. On the miscue, Wixon reached, allowing Tempone to score as the bases remained loaded while senior right fielder
Scott Cromack broke open the game on his second swing, doubling to left to bring home two runs for the 5-1 lead – forcing a pitching change for the visitors.
Graduate right-hander Devin Campbell came on in relief, getting another out but allowing another run as Wixon scored. Senior second baseman
Devyn Vezina singled to left, pushing the margin to 7-1 as Cromack scored. The Gators got Muzio to strike out to finally end the inning.
Russell Sage threatened in the top of the third, but Jackson held strong, striking out the final two batters with runners on second and third to end the frame. The Corsairs responded in the latter half of the inning, taking a seven-run (8-1) lead as a series of errors saw Wixon on third as Cromack singled to center. With two on, Vezina stepped up to the plate, sending a shot over the left field wall for a three-run homer and an 11-1 lead for the Corsairs.
The top of the fourth saw the Gators answer as junior catcher Collin Casey singled to bring in a run, while senior infielder Zachary Figueras closed the gap to 11-4 as he sent a shot over the center field wall. Russell Sage capitalized on pair of walks, a series of errors and a single to bring two more runs across, cutting the deficit to 11-6 heading into the bottom half of the fourth.
The score remained locked at 11-6 until the top of the sixth after a double by Figueras saw the shortstop advance to third on a single, followed by a steal of home to make it an 11-7 contest. Into the bottom of the seventh, the Corsairs added more runs as with two outs in the frame and bases loaded, Tempone doubled to left pushing the score to 14-7.
Russell Sage added two more runs in the eighth and added another in the top of the ninth, but the Corsairs got the Gators to ground out into a double play to end the contest and secure the victory.
It was a 3-for-4 effort on the day for Vezina, who had two runs scored and four RBI. Tempone was also 3-for-4 with a run scored and three runs batted in, while Cromack was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. San Antonio also had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Corsairs starter Jackson pitched 4.0 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits. He walked four batters, while striking out four before giving way to senior
Nick Pappas. The right-hander pitched 5.0 innings of relief to earn the win, allowing four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and no walks allowed.
The Corsairs return to action on Tuesday, facing off against Washington & Jefferson College at 7pm. The game will be played at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, Fla.
