WESTFIELD, Mass. – With a combined 18 hits and a six-run top of the ninth inning baseball (7-6) got back on the winning track as they defeated the Owls of Westfield State University by the final of 16-13 Thursday afternoon at Jim and Bud Hagan Field.
Tied at 10-10 going into the top of the ninth the Beacons exploded for six runs on three hits. Jamill Moquete (Boston, Mass.) was the driving force in UMass Boston's breakout inning as he crushed his second triple of the afternoon to drive in three runs. Moquete produced perhaps one of his best games ever in a Beacons uniform as the outfielder went 3-for-6, one double and two triples, and had five RBI and two runs scored.
Freshman Daniel Mantoni (Northbridge, Mass.) picked-up his first collegiate win on the hill as he went the final three innings. The righty allowed three runs on five hits, all singles, and one walk.
Anthony Searles (Shelton, Conn.) also had a big day for the Beacons going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Todd Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) and Kyle Szatrowski (Agawam, Mass.) each finished with a pair of hits and combined for one RBI and six runs scored respectively.
UMass Boston opened up Thursday's contest with a pair of runs in the top half of the first inning. The Owls would then respond with six runs, before the Beacons were able to strike again in the top of the fifth with a single run to make it 6-3 in favor of Westfield.
Gabe May (Portsmouth, N.H.) would come in relief and hold the Owls scoreless in the bottom half of the fifth inning. That shutdown inning would give the Beacons offense the chance they needed as they put-up five runs to take an 8-6 lead.
Unfortunately that lead was short lived as Westfield scored four runs to make it 10-8 through six innings. The Beacons would tie it at 10-10 in the top of the seventh on a two RBI single by Searles.
Now tied at 10 a-piece UMass Boston stepped up to the plate in the top of the 9th hoping to retake the lead and avoid a possible walk-off scenario for the Owls. Their first run of the inning came on a passed ball with bases loaded. Mantoni then drove in two more runs to make it 13-10 on a two RBI single with two outs on the scoreboard. With runners on second and third, Szatrowski picked-up his first walk of the game to load the bases.
This would then set-up Moquete's bases clearing triple, his second of the afternoon tying the program record for triples in a game. Now sitting with a six-run lead all the Beacons had to do is get three outs to earn the non-conference victory.
However the Owls did not go down quietly scoring three runs, but Mantoni and the Beacons defense managed to hang on with the final two outs coming on fly outs to center and left field.
Baseball returns to action tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Worcester State University for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game.