Worcester, MA --- UMass Boston senior Jamill Moquete (Boston, MA/Madison Park Tech) and junior Todd Ezold (Westfield, MA) both jacked home runs as they helped pace the Beacons to a 7-3 victory over Worcester State in non-conference baseball action at the Kevin Lyons Baseball Diamond.
UMass Boston (8-6) was also led by junior Charlie LaPaglia (Marshfield, MA) who went 3-for-4 while Ezold and freshman Daniel Mantoni (Northbridge, MA) chipped in with two base-knocks each. Moquete crossed home plate twice and he added two RBIs.
Freshman Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name) was a homer shy of the cycle as he finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Sophomore David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) also finished with two safeties.
The Beacons opened the contest when Moquete blasted a two-run dinger for his third of the campaign to put the visitors up 2-0 in the top of the first.
With two men down in the bottom of the same stanza, Barry belted a triple down the line in right and then he scampered home on the throw back into the infield that was not on target by the right fielder to slice the deficit in half.
But UMass Boston extended the margin to 5-1 with three runs over the next two frames.
Junior Bryan Failla (Torrington, CT) drove in classmate Anthony Gomes-Sirianni (San Francisco, CA) in the top of the second before Ezold cranked his first homer of the season for a solo shot to highlight the third.
The Beacons added one more score in the top of the fifth when the right fielder misplayed a single for the 6-1 advantage.
After four scoreless innings, Worcester State finally got to junior starter Steve Roche (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to trail 6-3.
Freshman Mike Powers (Weymouth, MA) rapped out an infield run producing single and then third-year Nick Gikas (Danvers, MA) followed with an RBI fielder's choice.
The Lancers actually had their chances over the next two frames with runners on base, but Worcester State did not take advantage of the opportunity.
UMass Boston plated an unearned run in the top of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Mantoni to score sophomore pinch-runner Nick Brothers (Danville, CA).
Senior Matt Dziok (Southampton, MA), who was inserted to start off the eighth, slammed the door with two scoreless innings and a perfect ninth to nail down his third save of the campaign.
Roche (2-1) tossed six innings allowing three runs (two earned) in addition to six hits and one hit batter. He also fanned seven batters – including five of which were looking.
WSU senior Derek Cole (Billerica, MA) was tagged with the loss. Cole (0-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits.
Freshman Tyler Barrie (Oxford, MA) was a bright spot out of the bullpen as he yielded one unearned run in his five innings of work and he recorded five punch outs in his first career appearance.
UMass Boston edged the hosts in total base-knocks, 10-9, while the Lancers stranded nine men in a frustrating day at the plate, including seven in scoring position.
Both squads will take on conference opponents this weekend on the road in noontime doubleheaders. Worcester State travels to Mass Maritime on Saturday while the Beacons will play Western Connecticut at Eastern Connecticut's Mansfield stadium.
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