NEWPORT, R.I. – The UMass Dartmouth baseball team shouldered a pair of tough losses on Saturday, falling to nationally-ranked Salve Regina University in non-conference action. The Corsairs are now 13-16 overall following the losses to the Seahawks.
In the opening game, the homestanding Seahawks opened up a 3-0 lead through the opening four innings of play. In the top of the fifth with a pair of runners on, junior third baseman
Nick Bartalini singled to right center, driving in rookie right fielder
Sam Bradford.
Salve Regina put up six runs in the bottom of the sixth to open a 9-1 advantage, but the Corsairs answered in the top of the eighth. With a pair of runners on, junior captain and shortstop
Cooper Wixon belted a hit to right center to bring both runners across to close the gap to 9-3. A single to left by sophomore designated hitter
Luc Nivaud saw another run score, while senior left fielder
Liam Blesi reached on an error, allowing another run to come in for a 9-5 score.
The Seahawks added another run in the bottom of the eighth to push it to a final score of 10-5.
Bartalini went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and a run batted in. Blesi had a hit with an RBI, while Wixon added a hit with a run scored and two RBI. Junior left hander
Jordan Paradis suffered the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings pitched. He struck out nine batters. Classmate
Aiden Newhall went 0.1 innings, allowing three runs, while senior
Seamus Marshall went the final 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
Game two saw the Salve Regina bats come alive in the bottom of the first inning, scoring 12 runs in the frame. The Corsairs answered in the top of the third as rookie shortstop
Jayden Cruz reached on an error as senior designated hitter
Chance Checca came in to score.
Senior centerfielder
Brett Baker followed soon after, belting a home run to narrow the gap to 12-4. Salve once again answered in the bottom of the third, capitalizing on a two-run single to right by Grady Schopps for a 15-4 lead after three complete.
Salve added five runs in the bottom of the fifth and four in the bottom of the sixth for a 25-4 advantage. An RBI single in the top of the seventh from Baker added a final run as the Seahawks closed out the game.
Baker went 3-for-4 with a run scored and four runs batted in. Bradford was 2-for-4, while Cruz had a run scored and an RBI. Wixon was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Nivaud also had a hit.
Junior
Dillon Harding shouldered the loss, allowing 12 runs (6 earned) on seven hits through 1.0 innings. Senior captain
Adam Maher pitched the second inning, allowing no runs and no hits with two strikeouts, while classmate
Ray Boutiette pitched 2.1 innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits. Senior
Ryan Jackson pitched the final 1.2 innings with four runs allowed on five hits and two strikeouts.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Tuesday, welcoming Rhode Island College for a single game Little East tilt. First pitch is set for 3:30pm.
