HARWICH, Mass. – A game-winning RBI triple by Eddie Riley (Quincy, Mass.) capped-off an impressive performance by the top-seeded Beacons as UMass Boston advanced in the winner's bracket with a 2-1 10 inning victory over the fifth-seeded Roadrunners of Ramapo College Friday afternoon at Whitehouse Field in game 11 of the 2018 NCAA Division III New England Regional.
THE BASICS
#1 UMass Boston 2, #5 Ramapo College 1 (10 inns.)
UMass Boston (36-8)
Ramapo College (33-14)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Roadrunners went to the pen to start off the 10th inning, the Beacons quickly took advantage of the change as Charlie Huegi (Sandy Hook, Conn.) earned a walk with one out on the scoreboard. Despite having a tough day at the plate, Riley knew he could give the Beacons the lift they needed after being held to just five hits through 9.1 innings.
With the outfield playing in, Riley crushed a base hit over the right fielder's head, which sent Huegi running around the bases. The junior would reach home, with Riley flying into third base, sending the Beacons into frenzy.
Ramapo would get the next two batters, but the damage was done on the board. With Bryan Kaufman (Farmingdale, N.Y.) looking to close out the contest, the righty shut down the Roadrunners' bats for the third straight inning giving UMB the huge win.
In the premier pitching duel of the regional, Ramapo's record setting ace Cory Heitler went toe-to-toe with one of the top pitchers in New England in JT Morin (Wilton, Conn.). The back-and-forth battled between the two aces was impressive as both players brought their top game.
Heitler held the edge in the strikeout category as the righty peppered the strike zone from start to finish to earn 10 K's, which also secured his place as the program's single season record holder for strikeouts.
Morin, who had just one tough inning, in which he allowed the lone Ramapo run of the contest fanned six batters and scattered just four hits, all singles. The Roadrunners could have easily taken a commanding lead in the early inning as they had bases loaded with two outs. Luckily for the Beacons Nick Herzog (Riverhead, N.Y.) came up with a highlight reel diving catch in right field to keep the Roadrunners lead at one.
The Beacons first run of the contest came on an RBI groundout by Sal Frosceno (Derby, Conn.) in the top of the fifth inning. UMB threatened in multiple innings but failed to drive in some insurance runs.
While the bats tried to build some momentum, Morin and Kaufman continued to dominate on the hill as they duo retired 13-straight.
Kaufman improved to 2-0 on the year with Friday's game winning performance.
BY THE NUMBERS
- With the win UMass Boston is now 10-0 all-time in the New England Regional and 12-2 in all NCAA Regional Tournament play
- Kaufman did not allow a hit or a base runner in his three innings of work
- Chris Fowler (Barnstable, Mass.) was the lone Beacon to record multiple hits
- Riley's triple was the lone extra base hit in the contest
- All-time UMass Boston is now 2-0 against Ramapo in the first meeting between the two teams since 2010
- Friday's contest marked the first time that the Beacons had faced the Roadrunners in the NCAA Tournament
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will play in tomorrow's winner's bracket game at 4:30 pm against SUNY Oswego or Keystone College. That game will be played at Mass. Maritime Academy.