WESTFIELD, Mass. – UMass Boston scored three unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning, including a game-winning pinch-hit two-run double by Charles LaPaglia, as the Beacons held on for a 10-7 non-conference baseball victory over Westfield State on Monday, April 2.
 
The Beacons (9-8), who jumped out to a 7-2 third-inning lead, began their ninth-inning rally when Jack DeBiase singled with two outs and the bases empty. Matt Mattei then hit a routine fly ball that was dropped by the rightfielder, putting runners at first and third. LaPaglia follwed with his game-winning blow, a double down the rightfield line. Pat Lynch then plated LaPaglia with a single up the middle for the game's final run.
 
The Owls (9-9) knotted the score at 7-7 in the sixth inning with a dropped fly ball by the Beacon rightfielder leading to five unearned runs.
 
Hot-hitting Andrew Medeiros, who had singled to lead off the sixth, scored on the dropped fly ball with two outs to make the score 7-3. Jeremy Tanguay ripped an RBI ground rule double to under the leftfield fence to make it 7-4. Kyle Colesanti scored on a bases loaded wild pitch then Kevin Greene ripped a two-run single to tie the score.
 
The Owls took a 1-0 first-inning lead when Matt Kelly led off with a single, advanced to second on a balk, and scored on a Medeiros' double down the leftfield line.
 
The Beacons crossed the plate four times in the second inning as Owl starting pitcher Aaron Messier struggled to find the plate. Messier allowed three walks and four hits in the inning, with the big blow a two-run single by Mike McCormack.
 
UMass Boston racked Westfield reliever Bret Siflinger for three runs in the third, with the big blow an RBI triple by Nick Grassetti. Siflinger settled down to throw scoreless fourth and fifth innings.
 
Mike Sullivan sustained the tough mound setback. He threw the four innings and allowed three hits, all in the final frame. He walked one and struck out five.
 
Matt Dziok pitched two innings to receive credit for pitching victory. Jeff Thomas pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
 
Collin Keefer and McCormack – the No. 1 and No. 2 batters – collected half of the Beacons' 10 hits. McCormack was 2 for 4 with three RBI and the speedy Keefer was 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBI in the leadoff spot.
 
Westfield had seven hits. Kelly was 2 for 4, including an RBI double in the second inning. Medeiros was 2 for 4 with an RBI double.