BABSON PARK, Mass. – Powered by an offensive outburst in the early innings, Babson College posted a victory over UMass Dartmouth in a rematch of last May's NCAA Tournament contest at Govoni Field. The Beavers improved to 17-8 overall with the 16-6 win, while the Corsairs move to 13-12 on the season.
The homestanding Beavers opened a 4-0 lead after the first inning as a bases loaded walk, followed by a three-run triple from junior designated hitter Chris Basile gave Babson the advantage.
UMass Dartmouth responded in the top of the second, driving in five runs to take the 5-4 lead. Graduate student first baseman
Matt Tempone got things going, belting a home run to right field. The Corsairs brought another run across as junior catcher
Ryan Jones scored on a passed ball to close the gap to two (4-2).
Senior second baseman
Devyn Vezina reached on a fielder's choice as sophomore shortstop
Cooper Wixon came home. The senior infielder later came home on a wild pitch – tying the game at 4-4 – before a single to center off the bat of senior left fielder
Liam Blesi made it a 5-4 game.
Despite the momentum, the Corsairs could not hold off the Beavers, who pushed across five runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to open a 9-5 advantage. Four more runs came across for the home team in the bottom of the third as Babson tacked on three more runs in the fourth.
UMass Dartmouth saw sophomore third baseman
Nick Bartalini send a home run over the center field wall in the top of the sixth, but the Corsairs were unable to get any closer.
On the mound, senior
Ian-James McCasland shouldered the loss, pitching 1.0 innings with six runs allowed on three hits with a strikeout. The Corsairs got 0.1 innings from sophomore
Aiden Newhall, followed by 1.1 inning from sophomore
Leo Colena. Senior
Nick Pappas came on for 1.0 innings with two strikeouts, followed by 1.1 innings from classmate
Nathan Potter, who also had two K's. Sophomore
Sam Watts concluded the game in the final 1.0 innings with a strikeout.
The Corsairs return to action on Friday, traveling to Plymouth State for Little East doubleheader action against the Panthers. First pitch is set for 11am with game two beginning around 2pm.
