April 15, 2010
Box Score
QUINCY, MA - The University of Massachusetts Boston baseball team overcame a one-run deficit, exploding for 10 runs in the ninth inning, en-route to a 12-3 victory over host Eastern Nazarene College today at Bradley Field on the campus of Eastern Nazarene College. ENC falls to 14-15, while the Beacons improve to 15-9 on the season with their school-record matching sixth straight victory. UMass Boston last won six consecutive games from April 7-17, 1989.
In a tight game through eight innings, and the Lions leading 3-2 going into the ninth, the Beacons started their remarkable at bat with a lead-off single by junior first baseman Conner Reinfurt (Manchester, NH), followed by another single by junior right fielder Jose Ramon Santos (Tenares, DR). A fielded bunt and force out of the lead runner at third gave the Lions the first out of the ninth but the Beacons bats would remain hot as senior left fielder Drew Tambling (Sterling, MA) singled to right to score Reinfurt from second and tie the game, 3-3.
Freshman center fielder Mark McCormack (Shelton, CT) was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Junior second baseman Ryan Walsh (Newton, MA) delivered with a two-run single to give the visitors a 5-3 lead. UMass Boston wasn't done yet as RBI singles from junior Dan Noonan (Westport, MA) and McCormack, RBI walks from sophomore pinch hitter Ty Buccetti (Wallingford, CT) and Santos, coupled with a bases clearing double by Jeff Outzen (San Mateo, CA), blew the game wide open at 12-3. Outzen's three-run double gave him nine RBI in his last two games. The Beacons had gone through three Lions pitchers before the inning ended.
Junior relief pitcher Tony Damon (San Bruno, CA) returned for the ninth and got the Lions one-two-three to seal the victory and improve to 4-1 for UMass Boston.
Jonathon Ovalles (Bronx, NY) got the start for the Lions, and Danny Gomez (East Boston, MA) took the mound for the Beacons. Gomez finished the day, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out six in six and one-third innings of work. Damon hurled the final two and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball, yielding just one hit and two walks to go with four strikeouts.
UMass Boston found the first two hits of the game on back to back hits by sophomore third baseman Mike Mattei (Spencer, MA) and Reinfurt, but the Lions quickly ended the rally with a put out at third base from left field by OF Nate Leaser (Solano Beach, CA).
A lead-off walk by Justin Denbow (Readfield, ME) sparked the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning when second baseman Jimmy Williams (Truckee, CA) laced a slicing line drive down the right field line with two outs to drive in the runner from first and put the Lions on top 1-0.
The Beacons had runners on first and second in the top of the third on a bloop-single and an error on a pop up by the third baseman Joel Torres (Bronx, NY), and Walsh drove in the first run of the game for the Beacons on a dribbler up the third baseline that tied the game at 1-1. Ovalles escaped further damage with runners on first and third by getting the third out on a deep fly ball to right center field.
Jared Daniels (Smithsburg, MD) came in the top of the sixth inning in relief of Ovalles and retired the first five batters he faced before giving up a bunt single to Tambling. Tambling stole second and scored on a grounder back up the middle by McCormack to break the tie 2-1.
Anthony Molendez (Yonkers, NY) singled in the bottom of the seventh to drive in J. Williams from third to knock in the tying run and the runners advanced on a throwing error by the pitcher. Juan Rivera (Pelham, NH) worked a one-out walk to load the bases and keep the rally alive.
Damon came in to relieve Gomez and Torres hit a sacrifice fly to score J. Williams from third to increase the Lion's lead to 3-2.
Matt Winders (Plymouth, NY) came in relief of Daniels in the top of the eighth and walked the lead-off batter but forced the runner out at second on a fielder's choice then induced a double play to end the inning and take the Lions into the ninth where the Beacons bats came alive.
The Beacons tallied 16 hits in their late game rally and the Lions had six on the day. Outzen and Walsh led the Beacons with three RBI.
Eastern Nazarene has a TCCC double-header on Saturday, April 17 vs. Colby-Sawyer College while UMass Boston hosts UMass Dartmouth on the same day in Waltham, MA for a Little East Conference double header at Noon.
Material used in this report courtesy of Eastern Nazarene College Sports Information
