AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The UMass Dartmouth baseball team came from behind in the bottom of the fifth, battling to a 17-7 victory in seven innings over the University of Mount Saint Vincent on Monday at Lake Myrtle Park. The Corsairs – winners of each of their last three games – improve to 6-8 overall.
Trailing by a 4-2 margin heading into the fifth inning, the Corsairs saw Mount Saint Vincent push three runs across in the frame to open a 7-2 advantage. UMass Dartmouth responded in their half of the inning as rookie right fielder
Sam Bradford led off with a walk.
The right fielder advanced on a wild pitch and junior shortstop
Cooper Wixon singled down the right field line to put runners on the corners. Senior center fielder
Brett Baker then sent a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Bradford to make it a 7-3 score.
Graduate student first baseman
Spencer Aubin stepped up to the plate as the Corsairs had bases loaded. Aubin was hit by pitch to bring in a run and junior
Ryan Jones followed, also getting hit by pitch to bring in another run and cut the deficit to two (7-5).
UMD brought on rookie
Jayden Cruz to pinch hit and it paid off as the freshman doubled down the right field line, bringing home two runners to tie the game. The Corsairs then took the lead on a wild pitch as Jones came in to score to make it an 8-7 game.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Corsairs pushed the lead further with bases loaded, sophomore designated hitter
Luc Nivaud reached on a fielder's choice, bringing home Wixon who led off with a walk for a 10-7 score.
That momentum continued into the bottom of the seventh as a two-run single up the middle by Wixon, coupled with a single to left from Nivaud made it a 12-7 margin. Soon after, the Corsairs once again found themselves with bases loaded and Jones capitalized with a grand slam home run over the left field wall to open a 16-7 score. Bradford added an RBI triple to center field, widening the gap to 10 (17-7) to put the mercy rule into play and end the game.
At the plate, Jones went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a game-high five RBI. Nivaud was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four runs batted in, while Wixon went 3-doe-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Bradford was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in, while Cruz was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
On the mound, senior
Seamus Marshall earned the victory, pitching the final 2.1 innings of play. He allowed no runs and just two hits with three strikeouts. Starter
Ray Boutiette went 4.2 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
The Corsairs are back in action on Wednesday, taking on Bethel University and Rutgers-Camden at 10:30am and 2pm, respectively at Chain O'Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Florida.
