BOSTON, Mass. – The top-seeded Beacons advanced in the winner's bracket behind a 10-strikeout performance by JT Morin (Wilton, Conn.), and a three-run homer by Chris Fowler (Barnstable, Mass.) as they defeated the third-seeded Huskies of the University of Southern Maine Thursday afternoon on day two of the Monan Park.
THE BASICS
#1 UMass Boston 6, #3 University of Southern Maine 1
UMass Boston (32-8)
University of Southern Maine (27-13)
HOW IT HAPPENED
With Thursday's win the Beacons now sit with a 2-0 record in the Little East Tournament, while the Huskies were eliminated after dropping back-to-back games in less than 12 hours. With the loss, Southern Maine has now gone 0-2 at Monan Park in the LEC Tournament in 2016 and 2018.
Morin, who normally does not face the Huskies during the regular season, had a career-best showing as he struck out 10 while only walking two. He held the Huskies hitless through the first four innings, and allowed the only run on a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh inning.
After failing to plate a combined six-runners through the first four innings, the Beacons got a huge lift in the fifth, when Fowler unloaded a three-run bomb over the right field wall. The bomb plated Kyle Boudrias (Medford, Mass.) and Dave Murphy (Plymouth, Mass.). Boudrias reached first on a single, while Murphy walked to set-up the crucial inning for the Beacons.
In the sixth UMass Boston matched their previous inning by scoring three more runs once again. With the bases loaded with Beacons, Murphy did his job by hitting a single to left field, bringing home a pair of runs. After that, Boudrias was able to score on a wild pitch, making the score 6-0.
That was all the run support that Morin as he cruised into the seventh inning. After allowing the one-run, the lefty settled down and retired the side. The seventh would mark the final for Morin as he collected his sixth win of the year. After Morin departed the game Joe Maguire (Peabody, Mass.) recorded a scoreless eighth, before Bobby Tramondozzi (Peabody, Mass.) closed the door on the Huskies in the ninth.
Tramondozzi let-up a rare leadoff triple, putting himself in a jam without even registering a single out. That's when he showed his dominance, striking the next batter out followed by getting the next two to pop out to the infield.
On the day, Fowler finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Murphy was 2-for-4 with two RBI a double and a run scored.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Thursday's win marked the second time in the last three tournaments that UMB has eliminated Southern Maine
- The Beacons entered the contest ranked first on the final NCAA Regional Poll, while the Huskies entered the contest ranked second
- UMB is now 5-0 all-time against Southern Maine at Monan Park, including the two playoff wins
- Through their first two tournament games the Beacons pitchers have combined for 22 strikeouts respectively
- The home run by Fowler marked the first of the tournament and was the Beacons four extra base hit
WHO'S NEXT
The UMass Boston Beacons will take on the winner of Rhode Island College and Eastern Connecticut State tomorrow morning at 11:00.