PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Behind an offensive onslaught and solid work on the mound, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team posted a doubleheader sweep at Plymouth State University on Saturday. The Corsairs posted a 16-5 game one win in seven innings, followed by an 11-4 victory in game two. The Corsairs move to 16-17 and are now 8-2 in conference play.
In game one, UMass Dartmouth held a 7-3 advantage after the opening four innings and following a pair of scoreless frames, the Corsairs added further to their advantage in the top of the seventh. A double to left field from Bradford drove in a pair of runs for a 9-3 score. Rookie
Conner McNamara then reached on an error, allowing junior
Nick Bartalini and rookie right fielder
Sam Bradford to score to make it an 11-3 game.
Next came a single up the middle for Cruz, driving another run in to open the margin to nine runs, while a base hit to right by Wixon pushed the margin to 13-3 as rookie second baseman
Jayden Cruz came round to score. Senior captain and centerfielder
Brett Baker was next to the plate, belting a double to right for another run in the frame. Nivaud and junior
Marcus Ollivierre both reached on an error as runs continued to cross for a 16-3 advantage after a nine-run effort in the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers pushed across a run against junior starter
Jordan Paradis on a double from Webber. UMD went to the bullpen, bringing on senior
Ray Boutiette as a run scored, but the righty was able to strike out the final batter to give the Corsairs the mercy-rule victory.
Baker was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game, posting three runs scored with an RBI all while posting three stolen bases. Nivaud went had a hit with three runs scored and two RBI, while Wixon was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Bradford was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and three runs batted in, while Cruz was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, adding two stolen bases.
On the mound, Paradis went 6.0 innings, allowing five runs on three hits. He posted eight strikeouts in the contest. Boutiette allowed no runs and no hits in the seventh, striking out one batter.
In game two, the Corsairs owned a 2-0 through two innings of play, but broke things wide open in the top of the third with xx runs. With one out on the board, Baker was walked and Nivaud followed with a single to left. Bradford then belted a triple to left center field, bringing home a pair of runs for a 4-0 lead.
Graduate student first baseman
Spencer Aubin followed with an RBI single to right and a home run to left field off the bat of junior third baseman
Nick Bartalini pushed the margin to 7-0 for the Corsairs. The Corsairs tacked on another run in the fourth as Wixon belted a solo shot over the left center field wall for the 8-0 margin.
The Panthers pushed a run across in the bottom of the frame on a single down the left field line from Anthony Cooley, but a sacrifice fly from Bradford, coupled with a single up the middle by Aubin, saw the visiting Corsairs open up a 10-1 lead after six innings.
In the top of the seventh, UMass Dartmouth opened the frame with a single by McNamara, who went on to steal second and advance to third on an error by the Panthers catcher. Ollivierre sent a sacrifice fly to center, bringing the runner home for an 11-1 margin.
The bottom of the seventh saw the Corsairs make the call to the bullpen, ending the day for rookie starter
Jackson Hayes as senior
Adam Maher came on in relief. The Panthers got new life as Login Desrochers singled to right, putting runners on first and second with one out on the board. Cooley then doubled down the left field line, bringing in both runners to close the gap to 11-3.
After a quiet eighth inning, the two teams headed into the ninth with the Corsairs still owning an eight-run lead. In the bottom of the ninth, UMD looked to close things out, bringing on junior
Dillon Harding. The Panthers pushed another run across with two outs on the board, capitalizing on a wild pitch, but Harding got Cooley to strike out swinging to conclude the game.
Bradford posted a hit with a run scored and a team-high three runs batted in, while Aubin went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI. Bartalini posted a hit with a run scored and two RBI, while Nivaud was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in.
Hayes had an outstanding effort on the mound, going 6.0 innings with one run allowed on four hits. He struck out five batters and walked just one. Maher came on for 1.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, while senior
Seamus Marshall pitched a perfect eighth with no runs and no hits allowed with a strikeout. Harding wrapped up the final inning with one run allowed and two strikeouts.
The Corsairs return to action on Tuesday, traveling to UMass Boston for a 3pm tilt against the Beacons in Little East action.
