Release written by Dylan Porcaro, Sports Information Intern
BOSTON, Mass. – Led by Dave Murphy's (Plymouth, Mass.) 3-for-5 day the ninth ranked Beacons earned an 11-9 non-conference win over Worcester State University on a rainy Tuesday afternoon at Monan Park.
THE BASICS
No. 9/9 UMass Boston 11, Worcester State University 9
UMass Boston (14-5)
Worcester State University (4-15)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beacons' ace, Joey Rogers (Dighton, Mass.) got the ball today as he entered the game with a 2.95 earned run average. He got off to a fast start, only allowing one hit through the first three innings of play.
The rain began around the start of the second inning, which caused the strike zone for both teams. The Beacons were forced to start swinging the bats due to the bigger strike zone, they managed to get on the board first in the third. Chris Fowler (Barnstable, Mass.) loaded the bases with a soft infield hit to third base. In stepped Nick Herzog (Riverhead, N.Y.), who got the job done with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, which scored Ryan McCormick (Cumberland, R.I.).
Worcester State struck right back in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs and essentially ending the day for Rogers. His final line on the day was six hits, two walks, five strikeouts, and three earned runs (one run was unearned due to a pass ball) over four innings pitched.
Ben Gottesman (Acton, Mass.) entered the game for a clean fifth inning with his team trailing 4-1. He was able to pull off a much needed 1-2-3 inning and keep the game within reach, especially with the scare that it could be called off at any moment due to the rain.
UMass Boston's bats came to life in the home half of the fifth, crossing the plate a whopping seven times as they batted around the order (14 batters came to the plate to be exact). Murphy had an RBI in the inning with a double, Herzog also knocked in an RBI which was good for his second on the day, and Kyle Boudrias (Medford, Mass.) ripped a hit up the middle bringing two runners home.
The 8-4 lead did not last long however, as Worcester State hit a 3-run triple to really cut into the deficit. On the very next pitch, a suicide squeeze scored the runner from third to even the game up at eight. With two outs in the inning, Alex Carusotto (Pittsfield, Mass.) entered the game for the Beacons, who quickly got the third out.
With two runners on base after the game had just been tied up, Eddie Riley (Quincy, Mass.) connected with the ball for a nice RBI single. Two more Beacons came around to score in the half inning, bringing the score to 11-8.
Carusotto gave up no runs, no walks, and no hits in 1.1 innings of work as he handed the ball to Joe Maguire (Peabody, Mass.) to start the eighth. After a leadoff walk, Bobby Tramondozzi (Peabody, Mass.) entered the game in an attempt at a 6-out save. Although he allowed a run, he was able to get out of the inning with an 11-9 Beacons lead.
Tramondozzi threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning, giving the Beacons the win which was credited to Carusotto, making him 1-0 on the year.
BY THE NUMBERS
- All-time UMass Boston now leads the series with the Lancers 21-20
- The Beacons have now won 7 of their last nine meetings with Worcester and are undefeated against the Lancers at Monan Park
- Head coach Brendan Eygabroat now sits just five wins from his 300th career victory
- Between the two teams there were 16 walks issued and 20 runners left on base respectively
- Worcester State struckout a combined 10 times in the non-conference loss
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will now travel to Worcester State University for the second game of this home and home on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.