MANSFIELD, Conn. - Junior righty Alex Amalfi put one the most dominant pitching performance in program history as he set a new program record with 18 strikeouts to pace the third-seeded Beacons to a 7-0 win over fourth-seeded Southern Maine on day one of the 2022 Little East Conference Tournament Wednesday evening at ECSU Baseball Stadium.

THE BASICS
#3 UMass Boston 7, #4 U. of Southern Maine 0

UMass Boston (25-15)
U. of Southern Maine (23-18)

HOW IT HAPPENED
With Wednesday's win, the Beacons will now face the second-seeded Anchormen of Rhode Island College tomorrow at 7 pm in a winner's bracket game. The top three teams in this year's tournament all posted victories on day one.

Amalfi's performance broke the original mark of 16 which was set in 2013. Along with his standout showing, the Beacons bullpen combined for four strikeouts to tie the NCAA Division III record for strikeouts in nine inning with 22. 

Following a scoreless first inning, the Beacons added one run in each of the next four innings to take a comfortable 4-0 lead. With Amalfi dealing, the momentum was completely in favor of the Beacons. They then sealed the victory in the seventh as they plated three runs to secure the 7-0 victory. 

Drew Metzdorf truly broke USM's back in the third inning with a solo shot over the left field wall. Aidan Blake, who plated UMB's second run of the night, played a major part in the three-run seventh as he drove in a pair of runs on a two-run single to center field.

Ross Dexter and Thomas Kierce helped to seal the win out of the bullpen as the duo combined for the final four strikeouts, with Dexter striking out the side in the eighth.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The 22 strikeouts also sets a new program record for the Beacons
• On the day the Beacons allowed just two walks and scattered three Huskies hits, all singles
• The Beacons combined for 12 hits, four for extra bases
• Metzdorf solo home run ties ECSU's Luke Broadhurst for the league lead in HR's. He is now two shy of tying the single season record at UMB
• Head coach Brendan Eygabroat is now at 393 career wins as the Beacons skipper

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will face Rhode Island College at 7 p.m. tomorrow in a winner's bracket game.