AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Powered by a six-run top of the ninth, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team posted a 9-2 victory over Clarkson University at Lake Myrtle Park on Friday afternoon. The Corsairs move to 4-5 overall, while the Golden Knights shoulder their first loss of the season to move to 4-1.
After two scoreless opening innings, the Corsairs jumped onto the scoreboard in the top of the third as a leadoff walk from senior right fielder
Scott Cromack, coupled with a hit-by-pitch to senior second baseman
Devyn Vezina put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners over while a triple to center by graduate student first baseman
Joe Muzio brought both runs in for a 2-0 advantage for the visitors.
The Golden Knights battled back in the bottom of the fifth as rookie shortstop Aidan McGuire singled up the middle. Sophomore right fielder Seth Albert then sent a hit through the left side, followed by a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position.
Junior catcher Joe Figliolino grounds out to the shortstop, but the runner on third scores on the throw. A walk to senior second baseman Cam Jerrett loads the bases and Albert goes on to score on a wild pitch to knot the game at 2-2.
UMass Dartmouth answered in the top of the sixth, stealing a run back for a 3-2 lead. After an opening out, sophomore shortstop
Cooper Wixon singled on a liner to center. Rookie catcher
Cole Whitehead answered with a single to left. Another out came as Cromack flied out, but Wixon went on to steal third, scoring on a passed ball for the one-run lead.
The score remained the same until the top of ninth as the Corsairs broke open the game with a six-run inning. With one out on the board and bases loaded, graduate student designated hitter
Matt Tempone singled to right, driving in a pair of runs. A single from rookie
Sam Bradford loaded the bases once again as Wixon singled to short to bring home Muzio from third.
A strikeout to Whitehead put two outs on the board, but Cromack capitalized, tripling to right to bring home three runs for a 9-2 advantage before the Golden Knights stopped the threat with a pop out by Vezina to end the top half.
Junior hurler
Geordan Jackson Murphy shut down the Knights in the bottom of the frame, striking out three of the four batters he faced to secure the victory.
Muzio went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in, while Cromack had a hit, a run scored and a team-best three RBI. Tempone added a hit with a run scored and two runs batted in, as Wixon was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Four different players posted a stolen base, including two from Baker.
On the mound, sophomore starter
Aidan Newhall went 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Classmate
Sam Watts came on for 0.2 innings, striking out one batter, while junior right-hander
Aidan O'Donnell earned the victory, going 2.0 innings with just one hit allowed and three strikeouts. Jackson Murphy pitched the final 2.0 innings, striking out three batters.
The Corsairs wrap up their Florida trip on Saturday, facing off against the University of Minnesota-Morris at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 9:15am.
