DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth jumped out to a 5-0 run lead in the third, but freshman Logan Maitland (Tiverton, R.I.) had to work out of a bases loaded jam to power the Corsairs to a 5-3 victory over Little East Conference rival Rhode Island College this afternoon at the UMD Baseball Field. UMass Dartmouth won for the fourth consecutive contest to match the longest winning streak of the campaign, while also splitting the season-series with the Anchormen.
The Basics:
Score: UMass Dartmouth 5 | Rhode Island College 3
Records: Corsairs (18-11, 3-7 LEC) | Anchormen (17-11, 6-4 LEC)
How It Happened:
UMass Dartmouth junior Jose Vasquez (Roxbury, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored, while sophomore Mike Knell (Dennis, Mass.) was 2-for-4 from the dish with a RBI to lead the offensive attack. Junior Erick Ramirez (Boston, Mass.) and classmate Chris Wood (Berkley, Mass.) each added an RBI.
The Corsairs cracked the scoring column in the first when Knell singled to centerfield to drive in sophomore Mitch Baker (Braintree, Mass.) with two outs. Vasquez trotted home on a wild pitch to give the hosts the early 2-0 advantage. UMass Dartmouth increased its lead in the second as senior Kenny Michael (Norwood, Mass.) laced a double to right field and Ramirez followed suit with a RBI double down the left field line. Wood lifted a sacrifice fly to left field two batters later to score Ramirez. Vasquez capped the Corsairs' scoring after driving the first pitch of the third inning over the left field fence for his team-leading fourth home run of the season.
Senior Ben Lodge (Blackstone, Mass.) turned in his best performance of the season, throwing eight-plus innings and allowing two runs on just five hits. He struck out four and issued a pair of walks to even his record at 3-3. The right-hander scattered a lead-off single before retiring 14 of the next 15 batters he faced. Lodge continued to remain in command throughout his outing, including setting down six straight hitters to reach the eighth. He was able to strand a lead-off double at second in the eighth, but departed after a single and a walk in the ninth.
Rhode Island College mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth, sending nine hitters to the plate. The first three batters reached safely before UMass Dartmouth recorded an out. Sophomore Josh Silva (Seekonk, Mass.) laced a two-run single to left field to put the Anchormen on the board. A bunt single and a walk drew the visitors within one run at 5-3. Maitland was summoned from the bullpen and was able to retire Rhode Island College's No. 2 and No. 3 hitters to earn his third save of the campaign.
Up Next:
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 3:30pm on Thursday, April 26, when the Corsairs host Suffolk University.