April 29, 2010
Box Score
CAMBRIDGE, MA - Despite a late rally, the University of Massachusetts Boston baseball team's thirteen hits and two-run home runs from junior first baseman Connor Reinfurt (Manchester, NH) and senior left fielder Drew Tambling (Sterling, MA) were too much for MIT to match, as the Beacons came away with a 9-7 victory Thursday on Briggs Field. With the win, UMass Boston improves to 19-13 on the season, while the Engineers fall to 11-14.
Junior second baseman Ryan Walsh (Newton, MA) also drove in his 43rd run of the season to eclipse UMB teammate Dan Noonan's (Westport, MA) school record set last season.
The Beacons wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, putting up three runs in the first. A triple by UMass Boston sophomore center fielder Mark McCormack and the record-setting RBI single by Walsh opened the scoring, and a lofty shot to left field from Reinfurtwas aided by the gusty winds and sailed over the fence for a 2-run homer.
The Beacons extended their lead in the third when McCormack found his way on base again via a walk and was brought home by a single through the left side from junior catcher Tim Fontaine (Worcester, MA), opening the visitor's advantage to 4-0.
MIT responded in the bottom of the inning when, after a pair of walks, senior Stewart Park singled down the left-field line, driving home MIT's Brian Doyle from second. Next at the plate, freshman James McKinney hit another single up the middle, scoring two and narrowing the deficit to 4-3.
With the game's momentum in their favor, the Engineers kept pushing in the fourth. Freshman Grant Iwamoto doubled to left center while Ben Bersanti and Park loaded the bases before McKinney notched another two RBI with a single to left field. The Beacons managed to cut the inning short by running-down Park, but not before the Cardinal and Gray took the lead at 5-4.
Anxious to be trailing, UMass Boston was quick to answer as hits by McCormack and Walsh became suddenly lethal when an MIT fielding error scored both, restoring the lead to the Beacons, 6-5.
Two quiet innings followed before the Beacons found their big bats again. Freshman shortstop Matt Consiglio (Southbury, CT) reached base on a single through right side, setting up a two-run blast from Tambling, his seventh home run of the season and the Beacons' 34th as a team to break the school record set in 2001 and 2002.
UMass Boston notched another run in the ninth when a sacrifice bunt from sophomore third baseman Mike Mattei (Spencer, MA) scored sophomore pinch-runner Pat Lynch (Middletown, RI) from third, giving the Beacons a 9-5 lead.
MIT mounted a rally in the ninth, starting the inning with a double from freshman Ricardo Perez and Park launched a deep fly that barely escaped the grasp of Tambling in left field, coming down on the far side of the fence to score two and narrow the gap to 9-7. UMass Boston brought in junior closer Tony Damon (San Bruno, CA), who-despite allowing two base runners-managed to shut down the Engineers' efforts, forcing a pair of fly outs to seal victory for the Beacons.
Seven pitchers took the mound for the MIT in the course of the game. Sophomore Columbus Leonard led Engineers with three strikeouts in two innings, while freshman Max Ockner was the only one that failed to allow a hit. Freshman Aric Dama (1-2) was tagged with the loss, having dropped two unearned runs in two outs on the mound.
Freshman Tom Cole (Mattapoisett, MA) (2-1) was credited with the win, hurling three innings of one-hit relief, while issuing just one walk and striking out two. Damon notched his third save of the season, striking out one and walking one in his only inning on the hill.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, May 1. Having finished conference play for the season, the Engineers are home and will host non-conference opponent Trinity College in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. UMass Boston next travels to face Little East rival Plymouth State University in a doubleheader also starting at noon.
