MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Despite a four-run rally in the top of the seventh, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team could not pull even, falling 5-4 at Montclair State University in the season opener for both teams at Yogi Berra Stadium.
The Red Hawks opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the first, driving in a pair of runs, adding a third in the bottom of the third for the 3-0 advantage. That lead saw the Corsairs make a pitching change as senior starter
Adam Maher exited the game, allowing three runs (two earned) with three hits. He struck out seven batters over 3.0 innings, allowing just one walk.
UMass Dartmouth brought on junior righty
Dillon Harding, who pitched a solid bottom of the fourth before Montclair State brought two more runs across in the fifth. With a runner on following a walk, junior first baseman Billy Tigar homered down the left field line – the second home run allowed by the Corsairs pitching staff on the night – to make it a 5-0 advantage.
Following a quiet sixth inning, the Corsairs bats came alive in the top of the seventh as UMass Dartmouth drove in four to narrow the gap. Junior shortstop
Cooper Wixon got the rally going, drawing a walk to lead things off. Senior center fielder
Brett Baker was up next, advancing on a walk as well for two on, followed by a hit-by-pitch to senior left field
Liam Blesi as the Corsairs found themselves with bases loaded and no outs on the board.
A pitching change for the Red Hawks saw King come on, getting a critical out as rookie designated hitter
Luc Nivaud struck out looking, but senior third baseman Jake SanAntonio followed with a walk to bring in the first run, followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of grad student first baseman
Spencer Aubin to drive home another run and cut the deficit to 5-2.
Junior catcher
Ryan Jones drew the fourth walk of the inning to once again load the bases and a double past third saw two runs score as sophomore right fielder
Sam Bradford pulled the visitors to within one (5-4). The Corsairs were unable to capitalize further as rookie second baseman
Jayden Cruz popped up to end the inning.
The eighth saw Wixon single up the middle, but he was soon after caught stealing as the Montclair State pitching shut the Corsairs down the rest of the frame. Into the ninth, UMD worked to get back in it, but a save from graduate student Patrick Teehan closed the books on the Corsairs to open the season.
In addition to Maher, Harding went 3.1 innings on the night, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked two on the night. Senior
Aidan O'Donnell went 0.2 innings with two strikeouts and a walk, while rookie left-hander
Alex Tawa threw 1.0 innings with a strikeout.
Bradford was 1-for-2 on the night with two runs batted in, while Wixon was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Blesi also went 1-for-3 on the night with a run scored.
The Corsairs return to action on Saturday, facing the Red Hawks once again at Yogi Berra Stadium. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12pm.
