SALEM, Mass. – Back-to-back two run innings and a 2-for-3 three RBI showing by Ryan Manning proved to be the deciding factor as baseball handed Salem State University a 5-1 non-conference loss Wednesday afternoon at Central Campus Field.
UMass Boston's five runs on eight hits, three for extra bases, coupled with a dominating pitching performance by junior righty Lucas Ilges (Gloucester, Mass.) helped Beacons (11-14) end a three-game skid, which started last Saturday. Ilges earned his second win of the season after allowing just one run on one hit over 6.1. He would fan four batters and walk three others in the victory. The lone hit allowed was an RBI triple in the seventh which made it 3-1 at the time in favor of the Beacons.
UMass would seal the win in the eighth as Todd Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) ripped a two RBI single plating both Matt Consiglio (Southbury, Conn.) who reached base on a walk, and Jose Pena (Boston, Mass.) who was hit by a pitch. Ezold finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with the two RBI and one run scored. Nick Radcliffe (Randolph, Mass.), who made his debut in left field yesterday against nationally ranked Southern Maine, returned to the outfield and went 2-for-4 at the plate.
In the two-run seventh Manning drove in a pair of runs on a double, which allowed Ezold and Jamill Moquette (Boston, Mass.) to make it home. At that time, Ilges was flirting with a no-hitter as he completely dominated the Vikings (16-11) offense, with some solid help from his defense.
After walking the second batter of the contest, Ilges would go on to retire 12 straight batters before walking only his second batter of the afternoon in the fifth. During those six shutout innings, UMB managed to hang one run on the scoreboard as Manning drove in the go ahead run on a pinch hit single which scored Consiglio, who reached base on a walk.
Following the lone run in the seventh for Salem State, Harlan Zeerip (Bridgewater, Conn.) came in and just dealt for the next 1.2 not allowing a hit or a walk. The final Viking hit, only their second of the day, would be charged to Matt Dziok (Southampton, Mass.), who closed out the ninth.
The Vikings, winners of their last six going into Wednesday's match-up, saw Mike Baryski get the loss, his second of the season. Through five innings of work, he allowed one run on four hits and struckout five. UMass would do most of their damage off of relievers Sean Buckland and Sean O'Brien as the duo allowed four runs on two hits over 2.2.
Baseball returns to action tomorrow when they host Framingham State University at 3:30 p.m. at Campanelli Stadium.