AUBURNDALE, Fla. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth junior David Tarr (Easton, Mass.) threw 5 2/3 innings to earn his first collegiate victory, and freshman Matt Cronin (Framingham, Mass.) retired all four batters he faced to collect his first career save as the Corsairs defeated Ramapo College (N.J.) 5-3 this afternoon at Myrtle Field #2.
The Corsairs scored three runs in the fourth inning to race out to a 4-0 advantage en route to improving their overall record to 4-1. The Roadrunners suffered their first loss of the season to slip to 5-1.
Making his debut in an UMass Dartmouth uniform, Tarr limited Ramapo to just one run on five hits, while striking out two. He allowed just one hit and three total base runners through the opening three innings. Tarr surrendered a home run to lead off the fourth, but responded by setting the next four hitters down in order.
Leading 5-3 with two outs and runners on the corners, Cronin was summoned from the bullpen in the eighth inning to face the Roadrunners' hottest hitter. The Framingham, Mass. product fell behind early in the count, but battled back to induce an inning-ending ground ball to escape the jam. Cronin set the side down in order in the bottom of the ninth to seal the victory and earn his first save of the season.
The Corsairs reached double digits in hits for the fourth consecutive contest. Senior Alex Newton (Saco, Mass.) reached base safely in all three plate appearances with a pair of hits and a walk. Classmate Ryan Medeiros (Acushnet, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Freshman Brandon Polignone (Peabody, Mass.) remained hot at the dish with 2-for-4 showing.
UMass Dartmouth cracked the scoring column in the top of the first, when senior Alberto Vasquez (Roxbury, Mass.) laced a two-out single through the right side to plate Medeiros. The Corsairs extended their advantage in the fourth, when the first two batters reached safely, including a Polignone double. With one-out, Medeiros ripped a RBI double over the left fielders head to score Newton and move Polignone to third. The visitors capitalized on a wild pitch to raise their lead to 3-0, while senior Cory DeMedeiros (Fall River, Mass.) capped the surge with a RBI single.
UMass Dartmouth regained its four-run advantage in the top of the fifth, when the visitors used a two-out rally. Newton and Polignone recorded back-to-back singles, while freshman Josh O'Neill (Halfax, Mass.) drew his third walk of the afternoon. Medeiros registered his second RBI, when he was struck by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Roadrunners scored an unearned run in the seventh and eighth innings to whittle their deficit to 5-3, but Cronin stymied the comeback bid by forcing the 1-3 putout.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18, when the Corsairs square off against Division I Bradley University at Lake Myrtle Stadium in Auburndale, Fla.