BOSTON, Mass. – Suffolk baseball came up short against UMass Dartmouth, 10-9, Thursday afternoon in non-conference action at East Boston Memorial Park.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 9 | UMass Dartmouth 10
RECORDS: Suffolk (21-14-1) | UMass Dartmouth (14-17)
HOW IT HAPPENED
UMass Dartmouth grabbed a two-run edge in the second as the Corsairs punched a pair of runs on Nate Stewart's double to right center.
The deficit did not stay long as the Rams rattled off eight runs on four hits and a costly Dartmouth error to flip the script in their favor, 8-2, in the home half of the inning. Suffolk's scoring started with the bags juiced, no outs and an infield base hit from Ben Isaak that scored Will Hopkins, who walked. One out later, Connor Troio's single to center plated a pair of runners to put the blue-and-gold in front, 3-2.
In the middle of the second with one out, Dartmouth made a change on the hill, but the reliever was no match for the Rams. A two-run single by Trevor Lee was followed by a costly two-run over throw by the Corsairs catcher and another one-run single from Tim Brigham that give the hosts an 8-2 cushion.
Mike Knell sliced the deficit in half, 8-4, in the third with a two-run homer over the left field fence.
The Corsairs continued to chip away at the margin two innings later. A one run fifth preceded Pat Vartanian's led off solo shot in the sixth. The Corsairs' left fielder nearly hit the exact spot Knell did three innings prior to trim the distance to two, 8-6.
Dartmouth threaten even more in the seventh and Rams' reliever CJ Barrett found himself in a bases loaded jam. After Jack Harrington went down swinging for the second out of the inning, Steven Shamnoski blocked a pitch during Vartaian's at bat, but the ball was lost in the sophomore's catching gear and allowed a runner to come in. Vartaian ended up drawing a base on balls to put all the ducks in the pond once again and Stewart cleared the bases with a double to the right field fence to put the Corsairs ahead, 10-8.
Suffolk sat down in order in the seventh and stranded a pair of runners in the eighth to remain in a two-run hole.
In the ninth, Ryan Garton escaped a lead-off single and kept the Corsairs off the board to keep the two-run game intact.
In the do-or-die inning, back-to-back base-on-balls started Suffolk off. Dartmouth brought in Logan Maitland to handle the hill, but Shamnoski laid down a bunt on the first base side to move the runners in scoring position. Connor Troio a fly ball to short left in an attempt to score Rich Giandrea, who waited on third, but Vartanian made the play to hold Giandrea on third. Rich Gilbride sparked hope in Suffolk with a single to short that scored Giandrea to pull the hosts within one. The comeback ended there though as Trevor Lee grounded out to second for the final out of the frame.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Barrett suffered the setback after giving up four runs on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts to his credit in 2.0 innings of action.
- Charles Batchelder put together a six-run, five-hit, four-walk, one-K effort over 5.0 innings.
- Casey Sullivan (1K) and Garton (1 H) each worked one frame for Suffolk.
- Shane Reardeon picked up with win behind 4.0 innings of relief work with he limited the Rams to four hits and two walks with one punchout.
- UMass Dartmouth's starter Casey Fernandes allowed five runs on two hits and four walks.
- Dan Shea picked up the save after letting up just one hit in 1.0 innings of work.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Blase Cormier, Brigham and Isaak each provided two hits for Suffolk.
- Hopkins and Rich Giandrea each scored twice.
- Lee recorded two RBI, one hit and one run.
- Gilbride produced one hit, one RBI and one run.
- Troio tallied two RBI with one hit and one run scored.
NOTEWORTHY
- Barrett sat down a career-high three hitters.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk has a challenging feat tomorrow, Friday, April 26 when it heads to No. 7/8 Babson for a non-conference clash. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.