BOSTON, Mass. – Backed by a strong offensive effort, including a pair of home runs by rookie
Sam Bradford, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team posted a doubleheader sweep of SUNY Brockport in non-conference action on Sunday at Monan Park. The Corsairs posted wins of 7-4 and 8-2 to improve to 2-6 on the season.
Game one action was a late inning offensive affair as the visiting Golden Eagles got on the board first in the top of the fifth inning. With runners at the corners, a ground out to second by first baseman Matthew Coon drove in a run.
The Corsairs countered in the bottom of the sixth as graduate student first baseman
Spencer Aubin came home from third off a single to right by rookie second baseman
Jayden Cruz. UMass Dartmouth added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore designated hitter singled through the right side to make it a 3-1 game.
Senior third baseman
Jake San Antonio pushed the lead to 5-1 soon after, belting a home run to left field, but the Golden Eagles battled back in the top of the eighth as right fielder Evan Brock singled through the right side to drive in a pair of runs. That was followed up by a wild pitch that saw second baseman Josh Indek score from third.
In the bottom of the frame with runners on the corners, the Corsairs saw rookie right fielder
Sam Bradford score on a failed pick-off attempt at first. Aubin pushed the margin to 7-4 soon after with a double to left center to conclude the game's scoring.
For the Corsairs, Aubin went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while San Antonio was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Senior centerfielder
Brett Baker went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Cruz was 2-fo-4 with an RBI. Bradford went 2-for-5 with a run scored.
On the mound, senior starter
Adam Maher went 4.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out six, while walking two. Junior
Dillon Harding came on in relief, earning the victory over 3.0 innings pitched. He allowed no runs and just three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Junior lefty
Alex Tawa earned the save, allowing no runs and just two hits with two K's over the final 2.0 innings.
Game two saw the Corsairs open with a bang as Bradford belted a lead-off home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the first. Later, with two on, sophomore catcher
Luc Nivaud sent a sacrifice fly to left, bringing home Baker for the 2-0 lead.
Bradford answered again in the bottom of the second, belting his second home run in as many innings back over the left field wall for the 3-0 advantage. In the top of the third, the Golden Eagles answered as shortstop Blake Fortunato scored from third on a wild pitch.
Into the third inning with two on, the Corsairs saw Nivaud single through the left side to drive in a run, followed by a single to left by Cruz, which saw the Corsairs open a 5-1 lead. UMass Dartmouth added to the advantage in the bottom of the sixth as Baker singled through the right side for the 6-1 margin.
The Golden Eagles answered in the top of the seventh, tacking on their second run of the game. With runners on, third baseman James Dixon reached on a wild pitch. That allowed the runner from third to score to cut the margin to 6-2.
Aubin helped make it an 8-2 score in the bottom of the eighth, singling up the middle to bring in a pair of runs for the final scoring of the game. Senior righty
AJ Rourke shut the Golden Eagles down over the final two innings to help seal the victory.
For the game, Baker went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Bradford was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI. Wixon went 2-for-5 with a run scored, including a double and a triple, while Nivaud had a hit and two runs scored.
On the mound, starter
Kolby Pascarelli earned the win, going 5.0 innings and allowing one run on six hits with two strikeouts. Junior
Jordan Paradis pitched 2.0 innings, allowing a run with four strikeouts, while Rourke concluded the game in the final 2.0 innings, allowing no runs and just one hit with five K's.
The Corsairs return to action next Friday when they open Spring Break action at the RussMatt Tournament. UMD faces the University of Saint Joseph in doubleheader action at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, Florida beginning at 3:45pm.
