BROCKTON, Mass. – Led by Andrew Richards seven shutout innings, coupled with a combined 20 hits and 11 two-out runs the eighth ranked Huskies of the University of Southern Maine defeated baseball by the final of 13-6 Monday afternoon at Campanelli Stadium in a Little East Conference contest.

The Huskies overcame a six-run bottom of the second by the Beacons scoring total of eight runs between the third and seventh innings to remain the only undefeated team in the LEC.  With Tuesday's win Southern Maine improved to 20-6, 7-0 in the conference.  The Beacons dropped to 10-12, 3-4 in the Little East following the loss.

Richards, who entered the contest in relief, did not surrender run after the second to improve to 2-0 on the year.  While on the hill the righty allowed seven hits and struck out three.  Zack Bean got the start and after a decent first inning got hit with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the second, opening the door for Richards.

Jamill Moquete (Boston, Mass.) led the Beacons as the senior went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.  He was also walked a game-high two times.  For the Huskies it was all Chris Bernard at the plate as the left fielder went 3-for-6 with a double, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.  John Carey also finished with a pair of doubles and had a two RBI day to help his team to the victory.

After a scoreless first, the Huskies responded with a five-run, seven hit top of the second.  Despite the large deficit, the Beacons battled right back in the bottom half of the inning scoring all six of their runs on six hits. 

The inning got off to a great start as Charles LaPaglia (Marshfield, Mass.), Jose Pena (Boston, Mass.), and Kyle Szatrowski (Agawam, Mass.) all made contact.  LaPaglia led off with a single, followed by an RBI double by Pena, and an RBI triple by Szatrowski to make it 5-2 in favor of the Huskies. 

Anthony Searles (Shelton, Conn.) then drove in UMass' third run of the afternoon a sac-fly to right field.  After a four pitch walk to Bryan Failla, the Huskies went to Richards in hopes of stopping the bleeding.  He would get the next batter on a strikeout, but would surrender an RBI single to Nick Brothers (Danville, Calif.) and a RBI double to Moquete.  Todd Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) then plated Moquete on an RBI single to push the Beacons lead to 6-5.

Unfortunately, any momentum gained from that inning was stopped in the top of the third on a two-run homer by Matt Bender to make it 7-6 USM.  That small lead was all Richards needed as he settled in and shut down the Beacons bats. 

Will Barrack (Lancaster, Va.) was handed his first loss of the year after surrendering the two run-run homer in the third.  The senior went 2 2/3 and allowed the two-runs on five hits, but did manage a pair of strike outs.  The Beacons pitching staff did combine for seven K's in the loss, but all 13 runs against were earned.

Baseball returns to action on Wednesday when the host Roger Williams University at 3:30 p.m. at Campanelli Stadium.