BOSTON, Mass. – A four-run first inning by Western New England coupled by a stifling performance from sophomore pitcher Matt Lauria led to UMass Boston Baseball's second consecutive loss as they fell to the Golden Bears, 7-4, on Thursday afternoon at Monan Park.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 4, Western New England 7
 
UMass Boston (10-6)
Western New England (11-4-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Two out hits would be the story of the first inning for Western New England who used a walk from graduate pitcher Nick Assad to spur a four-run first. Back-to-back RBI triples from sophomore outfielder Jack Loftus and freshman outfielder Ryan Motini put the Golden Bears ahead 2-0. Another RBI single from junior outfielder Aaron Cole and an error by senior infielder Gianni Zarrilli Jr. gave the Golden Bears their 4-0 lead after one.

UMass Boston would only manufacture one runner in scoring position through the first three innings when senior infielder Aidan Blake recorded a double, but were held in check by Lauria. Another error on the infield, this time by senior infielder Drew Metzdorf, would help plate another Western New England run on a sacrifice fly by sophomore infielder John Bova, making it 5-0, while Lauria would work around first and second with nobody out in the home half of the frame to maintain the Golden Bears' five-run advantage.

Similar to a day ago, the seventh inning would be where the Beacons looked to rally themselves back into the game. Loading the bases with nobody out in the frame, Lauria would work out of trouble by getting senior catcher Craig Corliss to ground into a double play which plated the first run of the day for the Beacons. UMass Boston would add one more on an RBI single by freshman outfielder Joey Morrison to cut their deficit down to three, 5-2.

However, the Beacon bullpen would give those two runs back in the eighth as a Metzdorf error to start the inning led to an RBI triple by Cole and a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Kohtaro Shimada made it a 7-2 ballgame. Once again UMass Boston would get runners on as freshman outfielder Breon Parker singled and Metzdorf walked, ending Lauria's day on the mound. In relief, junior pitch Troy Donohue would work out of trouble, manufacturing a fly out and two strikeouts to keep the Golden Bears ahead by five.

Looking for some late-inning magic, the Beacons loaded the bases up with one out in the ninth on a walk, hit batter, and pinch-hit single by junior infielder Bostyn Burris leading to a two-run single by Parker to bring UMass Boston within three again, 7-4, and force the Golden Bears to go sophomore pitcher Andrew Melone to try getting the last two outs.

Melone would get the tying-run in Drew Metzdorf to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game as UMass Boston's rally fell just short in their first loss of the season at home to Western New England, 7-4.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Nick Assad took his second loss of the season, going four innings and allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out three and walking one
• Matt Lauria earned his second win of the season for Western New England after throwing seven strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out and walking three batters
• After a four-run performance today, UMass Boston is now averaging 7.3 runs per game this season  
• The UMass Boston defense has committed five errors this week, lowering their fielding percentage for the season down to .963

 
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston will head to Western Connecticut to face WestConn in their second Little East Conference doubleheader this Saturday afternoon with game one scheduled to kick off at noon. Last season, the Beacons swept the Wolves in their doubleheader, 9-0 and 6-2.