DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Behind a strong offensive effort and seven solid innings pitched by rookie
Jackson Hayes, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team posted a 10-4 victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon. The win – which marks the fifth home victory of the season – moves the Corsairs to 13-14 overall.
UMass Dartmouth opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the first as the home squad pushed across six runs. Senior designated hitter
Chance Checca drove in the first run with a single to second that scored rookie centerfielder
Mike Huntington. Rookie catcher
Nate Galanis was then walked with the bases loaded to bring in another run for a 2-0 advantage.
Sophomore right fielder
Austin Pagliettini then singled to right as two runs came across the plate, which was followed by a two-run double to left from rookie second baseman
Carlos Reyes to build the 6-0 lead after the opening inning.
Checca then belted a homerun to straight away center in the bottom of the second for a 7-0 lead, going on to add an RBI single to right field in the bottom of the fourth for an 8-0 margin. Rookie first baseman
Brock Gibbons then reached on an error as sophomore left fielder
Noah Bongiorno came home to score.
In the top of the eighth, the Engineers got on the board as Miles Pratt singled up the middle to bring in a run, while Greyson Baldizar grounded out to first, which allowed Pratt to score. UMass Dartmouth got an RBI ground out from Checca in the bottom of the frame to make it a 10-2 score.
WPI added two runs in the top of the ninth as Trice Cote brought in a run, while Zachary Roethlein posted an RBI single to right field. The Engineers had two runners on with two outs, threatening to score once again, but sophomore hurler
Jackson Huntington struck out Pratt to conclude the game for the Corsairs victory.
Checca went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four runs batted in, while Pagliettini was 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Galanis had a run scored and an RBI, while Reyes added a hit with a run scored and two RBI.
On the mound, Hayes went 7.0 innings, allowing no runs on just three hits with four strikeouts. Senior
Seamus Marshall went 1.0 innings of relief, allowing two runs with a strikeout, while Huntington pitched the final inning with two runs scored on three hits with a strikeout.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Saturday when they travel to nationally ranked Salve Regina for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for 12pm.
