WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior right fielder Jamill Moquete was 3 for 6 with two triples, a double and five RBI, and freshman catcher Anthony Searles was 3 for 4 with four RBI to lead UMass Boston to a wild 16-13 victory over Westfield State University in non-conference baseball on Thursday, April 3.
UMass Boston boosted its record to 7-6 following the three-hour, 50-minute marathon. Westfield is 6-6 heading into its conference opener this Saturday, April 5, when it hosts Bridgewater State.
Trailing 10-8, UMass Boston knotted the score in the top of the seventh on a two-out, two-run single by Searles. Both runs were unearned as the Beacons loaded the bases after two outs on a walk, single and fielding error.
UMass Boston crossed the plate six times in the top of the ninth to take a 16-13 lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, the first run scored on a passed ball. Dan Mantoni rapped a two-run single and later in the inning Moquote delivered the decisive blow, a three-run triple to right center field.
The Owls rallied for three runs on five hits in their final at bats, but the game ended on two outfield fly outs.
UMass Boston took a 2-0 first-inning lead, then Westfield went ahead, 6-2, with single runs in the second and third innings followed by a four-run uprising in the fourth.
The Beacons regained the lead, 8-6, by scoring a run in the fifth and five in the sixth, but Westfield responded with four runs in the home half of the sixth to take its 10-6 lead.
Westfield outhit UMass Boston, 18-16, but Westfield's four pitcher issued nine walks. The Beacons' five pitchers walked five. Westfield stranded 11 base runners, UMass Boston six.
Also registering multiple hits for UMass Boston were Kyle Szatrowski (2 for 5, three runs scored) and Todd Ezold (2 for 3, three runs scored).
For the Owls, Pat McWilliams was 3 for 6 with four runs scored and two RBI. Kyle Colesanti and Tim Santilli were both 3 for 5 with a double and Santilli also drove in two runs. Leadoff hitter Dan McCormack was 2 for 4 with a double and three runs scored and E.G. McMillan was 2 for 4 with two RBI.