NORTHBORO, Mass. – After jumping out a comfortable 7-0 lead, baseball had to hang on in the bottom of the ninth to pick-up a 7-5 non-conference win over Framingham State University Monday evening at the New England Baseball Complex.
With the comfortable lead, the Beacons chance at a shutout victory was erased due to a two-run shot by the Rams. They would then tack on three more runs to make it a two-run affair. With the bases loaded and two outs on the board, the Beacons were able to get out of the bases loaded jam, thanks to a strikeout by freshman righty Steve Witkowski (Pittsfield, Mass.).
Monday's victory improves the Beacons record to 9-7 overall, while the Rams dropped to 12-7, in the first of five games played by UMass this week.
In what turned out to be a pitching duel for most of the night, the Beacons ended the scoreless draw in the top of the sixth thanks to a throwing error by the catcher that scored Anthony Searles (Shelton, Conn.), and a sac-fly by Sal Frosceno (Derby, Conn.), which plated Ezequiel Sanchez (Manati, Puerto Rico).
The Beacons would then break the game wide-open, in the top of the ninth as they tacked on five more runs. UMass would get their first run of the inning after the Rams allowed a bases loaded walk.
Senior Charlie LaPaglia (Marshfield, Mass.) would then rip a double to right field scoring two runs to make it 5-0 UMB. Trevor Bouvier (Salem, N.H.) made it a six-run ball game on a sac-fly to deep center field. The final Beacons run of the game came when Nick Brothers (Danville, Calif.) recorded an RBI groundout to the shortstop.
Senior right Steve Roche (Worcester, Mass.) earned his first win of the 2015 season after going the five innings. The Worcester native did not allow a run, and surrendered just six hits, five of which were singles.
Junior Steve Consiglio (Southbury, Conn.) would then go the next 3.1 innings, allowing the first two runs in the bottom of the ninth. After a costly error by the Beacons defense, the Rams were able to play three more runs, with freshman righty Alex Carusotto (Pittsfield, Mass.) on the hill. With one out on the board, Witkowski entered the game and got the final two outs, both of which were by strikeouts.
The save was the first of Witkowski's young college career.
Sophomore Daniel Mantoni (Northbridge, Mass.) continued to swing a hot bat as he finished 4-for-5, with one double and one run scored. LaPaglia went 2-for-2 on the night with the two RBI and a run scored.
On the night Beacons offense pounded out 10 hits, while also drawing total of six walks.
Baseball returns to action tomorrow when they travel to Salem State University for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game.