DAVENPORT, Fla. – It was a doubleheader sweep on Saturday as the UMass Dartmouth baseball team wrapped up action at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational with 4-3 and 5-4 victories over the University of Minnesota Morris. The wins - played at Northeast Regional Park - saw the Corsairs improve to 6-5 overall, while the Cougars drop to 3-10 on the season.
The Cougars opened the
game one scoring in the top of the third as with runners on first and second, sophomore designated hitter Tyler Motley singled to right to bring in a run for the 1-0 advantage.
UMass Dartmouth countered in their half of the inning when three straight walks loaded the bases. Senior third baseman
Jake San Antonio stepped up to the plate, sending a single to left that brought home graduate student first baseman
Joe Muzio and senior left fielder
Chris Kustigian to grab the 2-1 lead.
Into the top of the seventh, Minnesota Morris responded as junior shortstop Bradie Black was hit by a pitch to lead off, quickly stealing second to move into scoring position. Rookie second baseman Payton Neadeau tied the game soon after, singling to center to bring home Black and make it a 2-2 game.
Following a pitching change as sophomore right-hander
Dillon Harding relieved junior starter
Ray Boutiette, the Corsairs intentionally walked senior Ben Meuser to put runners on first and second with one out. Following a double steal to move the runners, junior Ashton Pauly grounded out to first, as Neadeau came home on an error for the 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Corsairs worked to get the run back as San Antonio walked to lead off. Sophomore shortstop
Cooper Wixon then singled on a bunt to the first baseman to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice hit by rookie
Noah Bongiorno moved the runners up while a single to left by Cromack tied the game, 3-3.
The Cougars intentionally walked Vezina, loading the bases with one out on the board as a ground ball off the bat of Baker walked off the win for the Corsairs.
Leading the way at the plate was San Antonio, who posted two runs batted in, while Cromack and Baker each added an RBI apiece. Cromack added two stolen bases, while Vezina had one. On the mound, Boutiette went 6.1 innings, allowing three runs (2 earned) on seven hits, striking out three batters. Harding earned the victory, surrendering just one walk with no hits or runs allowed in 0.2 innings.
Game two started off with a similar pattern from game one as the Corsairs jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. With one out on the board, Baker doubles to left, followed quickly by a double to right from Muzio. Heads-up base running saw Baker score on a passed ball, while a single from
Matt Tempone drove in Muzio for the 2-0 lead.
Bottom of the second, bases loaded for the Cougars as sophomore centerfielder Landen Meyerdirk walked to bring home a run, narrowing the margin to 2-1 with two outs. Following a pitching change as the Corsairs turned to junior right-hander
Carter Scovill, Minnesota Morris took advantage once more as Black singled in two runs with a grounder to left and a 3-2 lead.
Facing a one-run deficit into the top of the seventh, the Corsairs struck back as a lead-off double by rookie
Marcus Ollivierre was followed by a walk to Vezina to set up runners on first and second with no outs. Baker, who played hero in game one, stepped up once again, sending a bunt to the pitcher that allowed the runner to score on the throw at home and tie the game.
The Corsairs – with runners sitting on second and third – capitalized further as Tempone singled to center, driving in both runs to give UMD a 5-3 advantage as play headed into the bottom of the frame with UMD up by two.
Into the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars added a run to close the gap, but Marshall shut them down, getting a strikeout on the final at-bat to secure the victory and the doubleheader sweep.
For the Corsairs, Tempone went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in with two stolen bases, while Baker was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Vezina went 1-for-2, adding a run scored and a stolen base. Marshall earned the victory, going 2.0 innings with one run and one hit allowed. He struck out three batters. Combined, the five Corsair pitchers posted 13 strikeouts on the afternoon.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action back in the New England on Tuesday, opening their home slate with a 3pm game against Wheaton College on the Corsairs Baseball Field.
