EAST BOSTON, Mass. – Suffolk University got a single in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 walk-off win over UMass Dartmouth in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon. The Rams are now 7-11 on the season, while the Corsairs move to 9-7 overall.
It was the Corsairs who got on the board first in the top of the fourth when a single to center from senior right fielder
Chance Checca, brought classmate and left fielder
Liam Blesi – who had singled earlier to left – across the plate for a 1-0 lead. The homestanding Rams answered in the bottom of the frame as - with bases loaded – junior second baseman Mike Mullaney singled to center, driving home the runners on second and third for a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Suffolk added to its advantage as senior first baseman Cole Hilliard doubled down the right field line, bringing home a run for a 3-0 advantage.
That lead held until the top of the eighth as the Corsairs battled back to things at 3-3. The frame got going with a walk to junior center fielder
Brett Baker, followed a batter later by a single through the left side from Blesi that brought Baker across. After two straight stolen bases by Blesi and with two outs on the board, Checca sent a double to center, bringing home the run to tie it at 3-all heading into the bottom of the inning.
Into the ninth inning, the Corsairs threatened but were unable to push a run across as the teams went into the bottom of the frame locked in the 3-all tie. Suffolk took advantage as Hilliard was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, eventually ending up on third thanks to a sacrifice bunt and a ground out to short. Graduate student and third baseman Chris Cimino stepped up to the plate, belting a hit into right field to walk off the game in favor of the Rams.
Blesi paced the effort for the Corsairs, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Checca was 2-for-4 with an RBI. On the mound, sophomore lefty
Aiden Newhall started the contest, going 6.0 innings pitched with three runs allowed on eight hits with a strikeout.
Senior
Carter Scovill came on for an inning, not allowing any runs or hits before giving way to sophomore
Ryan Jackson, who shouldered the loss with 1.0 innings pitched and a run allowed. Junior
Nick Bartalini surrendered a hit allowed over 0.2 innings.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Friday when it welcomes the University of Southern Maine for LEC doubleheader action at the Corsairs Field. The games – originally scheduled at Southern Maine on Saturday – will begin at 12pm and 3pm respectively in Dartmouth with the Huskies as the home team.
