MANSFIELD, Conn. – After a tough week of non-conference play, the fourth/fifth ranked Beacons once again found their bats as they pounded out 30 runs on 25 hits to earn a 13-7, 17-4 Little East Conference sweep of Eastern Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon at the ECSU Baseball Stadium.
THE BASICS
GM 1 #4/5 UMass Boston 13, Eastern Connecticut State U. 7
GM 2 #4/5 UMass Boston 17, Eastern Connecticut State U. 4 (8 inns.)
UMass Boston (13-5, 2-0 Little East Conference)
Eastern Connecticut State (9-7, 0-2 Little East Conference)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saturday's sweep marks the first-ever in UMass Boston baseball history and extends their win-streak to three straight, which is also a program first.
GAME 1
In the opener, the Beacons used a four-run fourth inning and a seven-run seventh to earn the game one victory over their longtime rivals. Charlie Huegi (Sandy Hook, Conn.) had a huge day at the plate as he drove in four runs on two hits, one of which was a double, and another a triple. He also accounted for two of the Beacons 16 runs. Chris Fowler (Barnstable, Mass.), also had a gigantic day for the Beacons, after having a very tough homecoming since UMB's return from Florida.
The All-American knocked-in three runs and had three hits in the one-sided victory. Ryan McCormick (Cumberland, R.I.) also kept the offensive onslaught going throughout the win, as he registered four hits.
On the hill, JT Morin (Wilton, Conn.) recorded his first Little East Conference win of his college career after allowing just three runs, all earned, on two hits. The lefty had five strikeouts, and allowed just five walks. Bryan Kaufman (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Chris Munro (Marshfield, Mass.) closed out the win for UMB as the Beacons bullpen continued to shine. The duo each recorded two strikeouts and allowed just four runs, three earned, on three hits over the final 3.2 innings.
Kyle Boudrias (Medford, Mass.) knocked-in UMB's first run of the day on an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning. Huegi then plated Boudrias and Nick Herzog (Riverhead, N.Y.) on his two-run triple. The shortstop then scored the Beacons fourth run of the frame on an illegal pitch.
ECSU managed just the one run in the bottom half of the fourth, but that run was countered by an RBI fielder's choice by Fowler to make it 5-1 UMB. The closest the Warriors would come to tying the Beacons was in the bottom of the sixth, when they scored three-runs to make it 5-4.
However, UMB would pound-out seven runs in the seventh on a slew of hits including a two-run double by Fowler and a two-run single by Eddie Riley (Quincy, Mass.). The Warriors managed just three more runs in the eighth, but their comeback bid fell short as the Beacons bullpen neutralized ECSU's bats.
GAME 2
The Beacons carried the momentum from game one into the nightcap as they pounded out six runs in the top of the first inning. From there they then tacked on a run in the second, three more in the third, and one more in the fourth. ECSU managed just three runs in the third, and one more in the fifth, but their offensive efforts once again proved futile.
After two scoreless innings, the Beacons tacked on two runs in the seventh, before sealing the mercy rule win in the eight with four runs.
Riley and Fowler did a majority of the damage in game two for the Beacons. Riley knocked in three runs on two hits, while also accounting for four runs. Fowler was just as impressive, driving in five runs on two hits, both of which were doubles.
Fernand Burgos (Hyde Park, Mass.) used the Beacons early offensive surge to improve to 4-0 on the year. In five innings, the righty struckout six and allowed four runs on four hits. Just like the opener, the bullpen cruised over the final three innings with Mike Doherty (Brewster, Mass.) and Alex Carusotto (Pittsfield, Mass.) each recorded a strike, while only allowing one hit respectively.
Of the Beacons first 11-runs through the first four innings, Fowler was responsible for four of them with a pair of two-run doubles. Riley also drove in a pair of runs on two singles, while Herzog and Boudrias each registered RBI singles.
ECSU's four runs never made a dent in the Beacons confidence, as they unloaded six more runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Anthony Cecere (Wakefield, Mass.) had the game-clinching hit of the nightcap, as he drove in three-runs on a double to make it 17-4.
BY THE NUMBERS
- With the game-two win, the Beacons have no mercy ruled the Warriors in two of their last three contest, all of which have occurred on the ECSU's home field
- Head coach Brendan Eygabroat now sits just six wins away from his 300th following the sweep of the Warriors
- On the day Fowler combined for eight RBI, five hits, four runs scored, three doubles, in eight at-bats
- Riley finished with five RBI and five runs scored in the sweep
- In total the Beacons pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts, and allowed just seven earned runs in 17 innings of work
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will host Worcester State University on Tuesday at 3 p.m.