AUBURNDALE, Fla. – A total of 22 hits and 17 runs over the middle innings carried top-ranked baseball to a one-sided 19-1 win over Nichols College Saturday afternoon at the Winter Haven complex.
THE BASICS
#1 UMass Boston 19, Nichols College 1
UMass Boston (5-0)
Nichols College (1-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After an Eddie Riley (Quincy, Mass.) two-run homer gave the Beacons an early lead in the second inning, the Beacons offense kicked things into high gear in the fifth as they tacked on a season-high nine runs. They then scored four more runs in the sixth and seventh innings to clinch the non-conference win.
UMass Boston saw Charlie Huegi (Sandy Hook, Conn.), Kyle Boudrias (Medford, Mass.), Dave Murphy (Plymouth, Mass.), Anthony Cecere (Wakefield, Mass.), and Riley each record two hits. Junior transfer Wanderson Pinales (Bani, D.R.) had his best day at the plate as a Beacon as the outfielder went 4-for-5 with four runs scored. Riley led the Beacons with four RBI and a run scored, while Ryan McCormick (Cumberland, R.I.)knocked-in three runs of his own on a double.
On the hill, the Beacons pitching staff continued to dominate with Fernando Burgos (Hyde Park, Mass.) picking-up his second win of the campaign. In six innings of work, Burgos allowed just one walk and five hits. Reliever Alex Carusotto (Pittsfield, Mass.) was solid in his first appearance of the year allowed one run, unearned, on three hits over two innings. The senior led the bullpen with four strikeouts. The Beacons closer Bryan Kaufman (Riverhead, N.Y.) also made it first appearance in 2018. The New York native fanned two in the ninth to clinch the win for the Beacons.
BY THE NUMBERS
- UMass Boston is now 5-0 to start the season for the first time in program history
- The Beacons have now outscored New England opponents 49-6
- Saturday's contest marked the first-ever meeting between the Beacons and Bison
- Saturday's contest marked the second time this season that UMB had recorded 20 or more hits in a game
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will play their first doubleheader tomorrow when they take on RIT at 1:15 pm and Rowan University at 5:15 pm. Both games will be played at Lake Myrtle Park Field #6.