WALTHAM, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth senior Alberto Vasquez (Roxbury, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with three RBI to power the Corsairs to a 9-4 victory over Brandeis University this afternoon at Stein Diamond.
UMass Dartmouth won for the fifth consecutive contest to raise its overall record to 10-5, while the Judges slipped to 7-14.
The top seven Corsair batters registered at least one hit, led by Vasquez. The senior first basemen reached base safely in four of his five appearances with two doubles, a single, and a walk. Senior George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) also tallied three base knocks to extend his individual hit-streak to 10 games. Seniors Cory DeMedeiros (Fall River, Mass.), Ben Monteiro (Swansea, Mass.) and Nate Farias (Fall River, Mass.) each recorded multiple hits for the visitors.
Sophomore Sean Callahan (Colchester, Vt.) made his first start of the season, holding the Judges hitless in one inning of work. Junior David Tarr (Easton, Mass.) allowed two runs (one earned) and seven hits over the course of six innings to raise his record to 2-0. The junior southpaw registered a season-high seven strikeouts, while issuing one walk on 101 total pitches. Freshman Josh Fickert (Lakeville, Mass.) pitched an inning of scoreless relief, highlighted by a pair of strikeouts.
UMass Dartmouth cracked the scoring column in its first plate appearance, when DeMedeiros reached on an infield error that extended the inning. The visitors took advantage of the additional out as Vasqueuz ripped the 3-2 pitch into the right field corner to score DeMedeiros from first.
The Corsairs doubled their advantage in the top of the third, loading the bases on back-to-back singles and a walk. UMass Dartmouth scored its second unearned run on a passed ball, but Brandeis avoided further damage with a shallow fly ball and cutting down a runner at the plate.
The Judges drew even with single runs in the third and fifth innings, respectively.
However, the visitors quickly regained their advantage with a pair of runs in the sixth. The Corsairs led-off the frame with back-to-back singles, but Vasquez was thrown out at second. Monteiro drove in the eventual game-winning run with a single to first base. Farias continued the hit parade with a single up the middle, while both runners advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Senior Alex Newton (Saco, Maine) capped the two-run inning with ground out to first.
UMass Dartmouth broke the contest wide open in the seventh, pushing across five runs to extend its advantage to 9-2. Agostini drove an RBI single through the right-side of the infield, while Vasquez nearly cleared the bases with a two-run double down the right field line. The visitors added an insurance run on a Farias sacrifice fly to complete the Corsair scoring.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, when the Corsairs host Fitchburg State at New Bedford High School.