WORCESTER, Mass. – The UMass Boston Beacons scored five late runs in the last three innings of play to tie the game at 5-5 and then claim win after scoring three in the 8th and one in the 9th to seal the 9-5 victory. With the win, the Beacons improve to 17-12 on the season, while the Lancers seep to 11-20.
The Beacons' Anthony Searles (Shelton, Conn.) hit two home runs off of Worcester State's pitching staff, going 2-for-5 with a game-high three RBI. Dan Mantoni (Northbridge, Mass.) and Kyle Boudrias (Medford, Mass.) both batted at the .500 mark, going 2-for-4 apiece.
UMass Boston put three runs up early in the top of the 1st when Ryan Olivio (Rochester, NY) reached on an error, and then Searles homered to centerfield for two RBI.
Worcester State responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning when Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.) hit an RBI single, and then Ryan and teammate Mike Powers (Weymouth, Mass.) conquered a double-steal to plate their second run of the game.
Worcester State stole the lead for the Beacons in the bottom of the 4th when the team scored three runs on six hits and one fielding error. Singles came from Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.), Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, Mass.), Kevin Valentine (Milford, Mass.), Robbie Fraser (Whitinsville, Mass.), Matt Sabourin (Stow, Mass.), and Ryan – five of six were back-to-back to start the inning. The Lancers had bases loaded with only one out, but were unable to score the remaining three runners on base, as the Lancers fouled out and grounded out to close out the inning.
With Worcester State in the lead 5-3, the Beacons managed to tie the game up in the top of the 7th when Mantoni singled up the middle for an RBI. Olivio then came up with a double to left center, plating Lionel Danielson (St. Croix, Virgin Islands) for the tying run.
UMass Boston obtained the lead in the top of the 8th with two outs on the board. Josh Lopez (New Haven, Conn.) came up to bat and slammed a ball to right center, scoring Charlie Huegi (Sandy Hook, Conn.) at the plate. Next up, Danielson came up to, yet, score another run in on a drive to right center. They closed the inning out with a double from Mantoni, resulting in an 8-5 advantage.
The Beacons added in another security run in the top of the 9th when Searles registered his second home run of the game for their final run.
The Lancers tried to get back on the board, but UMass Boston's pitching only allowed two hits in the last three innings of play. Sal Frosceno (Derby, Conn.) asserted the win in two innings pitched, only giving up one hit during his time on the mound.
Worcester State's Kyle Sullivan (Hudson, Mass.) registered the loss as he allotted two runs in the 8th inning to give up the Lancers' lead. The Blue and Gold's starting pitcher, George Bielizna (Danbury, Conn.) pitched for six innings and only gave up three runs (all unearned) and struck out five at the plate.
Offensively for the Lancers, Sabourin recorded a perfect on base percentage, going 2-for-2 and attaining two base on balls. Ryan, Bonaquisiti, and Valentine all batted .500 on the day. John Boyd (Worcester, Mass.) registered two doubles.
Worcester State will take a day off from play tomorrow, and then travel to Salem State on Saturday (Apr. 23) for a MASCAC doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. UMass Boston hosts Keene State, also on Saturday, for a Little East Conference twin bill.