AMHERST, Mass. – With home runs from Luke Nagle (Pembroke, Mass.) and Chris Fowler (Barnstable, Mass.), the 28th ranked Beacons won their 10th straight game as they defeated Amherst College by the final of 9-5 Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Field.
THE BASICS
#28 UMass Boston 9, Amherst College 5
UMass Boston (27-9)
Amherst College (17-19)
HOW IT HAPPENED
First on the scoreboard, the Mammoths took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With runners on the corners following a Harry Roberson walk and a single by Yanni Thanopoulos, Anthony Spina powered a double into the gap in right center to plate Roberson.
Responding in their next at bat, the Beacons tallied four runs to claim a 4-1 edge. Taking to the dish with Nick Herzog (Riverhead, N.Y.) and Nagle on first and second, Anthony Searles (Shelton, Conn.) ripped a double down the left field line to send Herzog across home plate. Charlie Huegi (Sandy Hook, Conn.) gave UMB their first lead of the game two batters later, sending a single through the left side to score Nagle before a ground ball out by Josh Lopez (New Haven, Conn.) gave the Beacons a 3-1 lead. Dan Mantoni (Northbridge, Mass.) notched the final RBI of the innings, plating Sal Frosceno on a hit to left center.
UMass Boston extended its lead to five in the top of the fifth, as Chris Fowler blasted a one out, two run shot over the left field fence to set the score at 6-1.
Getting two runs back in the sixth, Ariel Kenney and Ryan Hardin each logged an RBI for the Mammoths to make it a 6-3 game. Opening the inning with a hit by pitch and walk, Kenney capitalized on the situation and drove a single to left to score Thanopolous before Hardin put a hard ground ball into play to score Spina.
Recording the Beacons second home run of the outing, Nagle drove a lead-off homer to left center in the top of the eighth to give UMB a 7-3 lead.
Amherst reduced its deficit to 7-5 in the bottom of the inning behind three hits. Leading off, Spina registered his third home run of the season, before Kenney doubled to right and moved over to third on a passed ball. Stepping to the plate, Hardin posted a fielder's choice to score Kenney.
The Beacons earned a four-run cushion in the ninth, with Mantoni doubling to center to score Lopez from third and Fowler plating Mantoni on a ground ball out two batters later as UMB secured the 9-5 victory.
Tossing seven complete innings was Joey Rogers (Dighton, Mass.) as he improved to 4-0 on the year. The freshman gave up eight hits and five earned runs while fanning three in the winning effort on the mound.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Mantoni finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored and is now tied for fifth all-time in program history in career games played with 159
- Fowler extended his hit-streak to 29-straight games as he went 1-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored
- Wednesday's win marked the first over Amherst since the 2005 season; and their first meeting since 2014
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will close out their regular season schedule tomorrow when they host Western Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. Prior to the start of game two the Beacons will honor their four senior members.