BROCKTON, Mass. – Trying to build a late season spark, the Beacons changed things up a little bit in the final non-conference meeting with the Rams of Framingham State University (11-18). Led by a solid pitching effort from lefty Nick Radcliffe (Randolph, Mass.) and some clutch hitting in the late innings the Beacons (12-14) recorded their second consecutive win with a 6-3 victory Thursday afternoon at Campanelli Stadium.
The new faces in Thursday's line-up took full advantage of their opportunities both in the field and at the plate. Perhaps making the biggest impact was sophomore Ryan Manning (Plainville, Mass.) who drove in the game-winning run in the seventh inning on a clutch RBI single to break a 3-3 draw, which had stood since the top of the fifth. Manning, who got the start at third, finished 2-for-4 with the game winning RBI and also reached home plate once.
On the hill Steve Roche (Worcester, Mass.) was also huge as he recorded his first career victory after pitching a scoreless and hitless 1.1 innings. Coupled with a Matt Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) save, his third of the year, the Beacons continue to grind out wins as the regular season is quickly coming to an end.
Junior right fielder Jamill Moquette (Boston, Mass.) had one of his best days as he went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Patrick Murphy (Stamford, Conn.) also took advantage of his first start in left field as he drove in one of the Beacons three runs in the bottom half of the fourth on a single to right center.
Radcliffe making only his second start of the year went a solid 6.2, in which he allowed three runs, all unearned on seven hits. The lefty recorded seven strikeouts and just one walk, before leaving the game with the scored tied at 3-3.
After the Manning RBI in the seventh, senior infielder Matt Consiglio (Southbury, Conn.) sealed the victory with his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to left field which plated junior Jose Pena (Boston, Mass.). Consiglio, who got the start at first, made some key plays with the big glove that helped to keep the Rams off the scoreboard early in the contest.
For Framingham State, they featured a variety of pitchers in Thursday's contest, with the loss going to Mike Mainini, his first of the year. Mainini surrendered the game-winning run in the seventh as he allowed two hits in one inning of work. Justin Forman got the start on the hill and went 3.1 and allowed three runs, all earned, on five hits. He also strikeout four and walked one. At the dish catcher Kevin Driscoll went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Forman drove in a pair of runs on his lone hit of the day.
Baseball returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Keene State College for a noon Little East Conference doubleheader.