BOSTON, Mass. – After a combined eight hours, 35 hits, 37 runs scored, 22 walks, 11 stolen bases and 23 strikeouts by the Beacons pitching staff, baseball secured a crucial Little East Conference sweep as they defeated Plymouth State University by the finals of 19-8 in eight innings in game one and 18-8 in game two Sunday afternoon at Monan Park.

THE BASICS

GM1: UMass Boston 19, Plymouth State University 8 (8 innings)
GM2: UMass Boston 18, Plymouth State University 8

UMass Boston (6-5, 6-5 Little East Conference)
Plymouth State University (8-9, 4-7 Little East Conference)

HOW IT HAPPENED

With Sunday's sweep, the Beacons moved into fourth place in the conference standings with only one week left in their regular season. Curtis Tirone (Waltham, Mass.) was one of the Beacons big bats in Sunday's sweep, as he finished with six hits, one RBI, two runs scored, three walks in eight at-bats.  Craig Corliss (Hopkinton, Mass.)  was just as impressive going 6-for8 with seven RBI and eight runs scored.

On the hill, the Beacons got solid outings from Alex Amalfi (Ashland, Mass.), and Mike Doherty (Brewster, Mass.) both out of the pen.

GM1: UMass Boston 19, Plymouth State 8 (8 inns.)

The Beacons came out firing on all cylinders in the opener as they pounded out 10 runs through the first three innings.  UMass Boston, who was the visiting team in both games, despite playing on their home field, took full advantage of the first at-bats.
 
Plymouth State did not go quietly in game one as they tacked on seven runs in the third and fourth innings to make it a three run affair.  The Beacons gained some breathing room in the fifth with one run, before adding three more in the sixth, one more in the seventh and four more in the eighth to take a commanding 19-7 lead.  Plymouth State was able to plate one more run in the bottom of the eighth before Jackson Snider closed out the contest.

Combined the Beacons recorded 17 RBI on 18 hits in the game one slugfest.  Aidan Blake (Lakeville, Mass.) had four RBI and two hits, while Corliss finished with two hits, three RBI and four runs scored.  Steve Brookwell (Hightstown, N.J.) went 3-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored.  Brendan Ferrari (Dunstable, Mass.) picked-up the game one win after not allowing a hit or a run in 1.1 innings.

GM2: UMass Boston 18, Plymouth State 8

The nightcap was a mirror image of the first game, with UMass Boston jumping all over the Plymouth State pitchers.  They would tack on six-runs in the first two innings, while Dillon Ryan (Sandwich, Mass.) held the Panthers scoreless through the first three frames.

Plymouth State cut the deficit to two (6-4) in the bottom of the fourth, but were immediately countered by a four-run top of the fifth to make it 10-4 in favor of UMB.  Plymouth State managed just one run in the bottom of the fifth, but they deficit widen in the top of the sixth, as the Beacons put up four more runs.

The seventh inning was the just the second scoreless inning of the afternoon in the doubleheader.  Plymouth State squeaked out a pair of runs in the eighth and one in the ninth, while the Beacons secured the victory in the top of the ninth with four more runs.

Corliss ended his huge day with four RBI, four runs scored and four hits in five at-bats.  Tirone had three hits one RBI and two runs scored.  Michael Comeau (Andover, Mass.) drove in five runs in the win on just two hits.

Doherty picked-up his first win of the year after allowing just two hits, while striking out three in 2.1 innings.

BY THE NUMBERS

• On the day the Beacons combined for eight doubles, one triple, and one home run
• With Sunday's sweep, the Beacons have now won 13 of their last 16 contests dating back to 2013
• The Beacons 19 runs in game one marked the most scored by UMB against PSU in the series history
• The 37 combined runs in the doubleheader were the most scored by the Beacons against the Panthers ever in the series history
• Corliss recorded his first career home run as a Beacon and finished a double shy of the cycle in game one
• Ryan had a doubleheader best six strikeouts as the game-two starter

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will travel to Rhode Island College on Tuesday for a 3:30 p.m. Little East Conference game.