MOOSIC, Pa. – In a must-win situation, baseball could not get anything going offensively as they were eliminated from the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament, following a 5-1 loss to #6 Kean University (N.J.) Saturday afternoon at PNC Field. 

THE BASICS

#5 UMass Boston 1, #6 Kean University (N.J.) 5

UMass Boston (30-16)
Kean University (30-17)

HOW IT HAPPENED

A pair of runs coupled with a three-run eighth inning was all the Cougars needed, as the Beacons bats struggled for most of the afternoon.  UMB did have their chances to get on the board but were denied each time.

The lone run of the contest for UMass came on a bases loaded walk, which plated senior Bryan Dupre (Chicopee, Mass.).  The only Beacons to swing a consistent bat throughout the NCAA Regional, Dupre tried to lead his team to a late inning comeback with a lead-off double. 

Unfortunately with the bases juiced and two outs on the board, Kean was able to get out of the jam thanks to a pop-up which kept it at a four-run game. 

Ian Fitzgerald collected his third win of the season, after going 7.2 innings.  During that outing, Fitzgerald allowed just the one run on six hits and had seven strikeouts. 

For the Beacons Sal Frosceno (Derby, Conn.) was handed the loss after going just two innings.  Bryan Kaufman (Farmingdale, N.Y.) did a majority of the work in the middle innings, with JT Morin (Wilton, Conn.) closing out the final 1.2 innings.

Saturday's final closed out perhaps the most successful season since the Beacons run to the College World Series in 2010.  UMass hoisted their first-ever regular season title, and became just the fourth program in Little East Conference history to host the conference tournament at their brand-new Monan Park.  The Beacons entered the year ranked second in New England on the NEIBA Poll, and had received votes two straight weeks on the ABCA National Coaches Poll.

After receiving the first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in UMass Boston history, the Beacons showed that they deserved the opportunity they were given.  As the fifth-seed UMass knocked-off Haverford College in the opening round, and grinded out a win over Penn State Berks on day two. 

In total the Beacons will graduate just two seniors in Dupre and Steve Consiglio.  The future looks bright for UMB as they return all seven All-Conference selections next season, and eight of their nine starters from this year's regional tournament.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The 30 wins this season, marks the second time in program history that the Beacons have recorded 30 victories in a season.
• All-time UMass is now 6-2 in NCAA Regional Tournament games
• Dupre closed out his college career hitting .500 in the NCAA Tournament, which included seven hits, two doubles, three RBI, six runs scored, and nine total bases
• Dan Mantoni (Northbridge, Mass.) ended the tournament 1-0 with a team leading 0.00 ERA and six strikeouts
• With his 30 wins this season head coach Brendan Eygabroat now sits just seven wins away from his 250^th career victory