GORHAM, Maine – Powered by a strong effort in the middle innings and an outstanding performance on the mound by senior Adam Maher, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team defeated Eastern Connecticut State University, 7-0 in Little East Championship Tournament action. The third-seeded Corsairs move to 20-20 on the season and will face second-seeded Keene State later today at 6pm on Ed Flaherty Field.
 
The Corsairs opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with two outs on the board as sophomore third baseman Luc Nivaud singled to right field. His hit brought home junior shortstop Cooper Wixon, who had singled earlier in the frame.
 
UMass Dartmouth tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third as rookie second baseman Jayden Cruz walked, followed by a double to right from Wixon to bring in the run. After the junior advanced to third on a wild pitch, senior centerfielder Brett Baker walked and a sacrifice fly from graduate student designated hitter Spencer Aubin brought home the runner from third for a 3-0 advantage.
 
Baker went on to steal second, coming home on a single up the middle by Nivaud for the 4-0 lead. The Corsairs continued to add to the score in the next frame as Cruz tripled to right center and then scored on a wild pitch for the 5-0 score. A solo home run by Wixon in the next at-bat moved the margin to 6-0 heading into the fifth.
 
The score remained the same until the bottom of the seventh as the Corsairs got a walk to Nivaud and later senior first baseman Jake San Antonio for runners on with two outs on the board. A single through the left side by junior catcher Ryan Jones saw pinch runner Nick Bartalini come in to score for the 7-0 advantage.
 
Maher's outstanding work continued into the late innings making his way back out in the top of the ninth as he struck out the lead off batter. Despite allowing a hit, he forced back-to-back fly outs to end the game and pick up the complete game victory.
 
Wixon paced the effort offensively for the Corsairs, going 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Of his four hits, one was a double and another a home run. Nivaud went 2-for-3 on the day with two RBI, while Jones was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
 
Maher went the distance, surrendering no runs on just three hits with six strikeouts over 9.0 innings pitched. He threw 108 pitches, allowing just two walks in the complete game shutout.