NEWBERG, OR ( March 13, 2024) – The UMass Boston baseball team held a 6-3 lead in the top of the seventh inning against the Bruins of Geroge Fox University, until the Bruins tallied 1- unasnered runs to close out the game from the Curtis and Margaret Morse Athletic Field in Newberg, Oregon. The matchup potentially serving as the first time two female coaches have matched up in NCAA baseball history.

The Beacs rolled with graduate right-hander Tim Cianciolo to start the game on the mound, as he pitched well through three innings, only allowing three hits through 13 batters faced including four strikeouts and two walks. Senior Logan Lawrence followed up Cianciolo with 2.1 innings pitched, as he faced 14 batters through three strikeouts, and a walk on 51 pitches. Senior Brendan Ferrari, sophomore Josh Garner, and first-year Kevin Clark each share the action following Lawrence's stint on the mound to close out the day for the Beacs. Senior Aidan Blake had a game for UMass from the plate, as he had three hits and a run on five plate appearances to go with three RBI to lead the way for the Beacons' offense. Blake was backed by the support of sophomore Breon Parker, who tallied two hits and two runs in four plate appearances with one walk, as well as sophomore Justin Gouveia, who recorded a walk and a home run in three plate appearances.

Blake recorded the first run of the game for both sides in the top of the third inning, as he singled to center field to advance Gouveia, and to score sophomore Nick Farnacci.

The Bruins promptly responded in the bottom of the fourth inning following a two-run RBI single to center field from the Bruins' junior Noah Meffert.

UMass increased the temperature in the batters' box by leveling the scoring in the top of the fifth as he singled to right to score Parker from second.

UMass Boston would retake the lead in the top of the sixth inning off a sacrifice fly by the Beacs' first-year catcher Brandon Gaer, as his fly ball to center field was deep enough to score senior Bostyn Burris. However, the Bruins were able to reply by leveling the score with the return of their swing, as they put up one run on an RBI single to center field by the Bruins' sophomore outfielder Evan Balingit.

The top of the seventh inning saw the Beacons seemingly run away with the lead, as they rallied for three runs on as many hits. The rally began with a Parker single to left field, as he was brought home on a two-run homer from Gouveia to increase the lead to five to three in favor of UMass Boston. However, the Beacons weren't finished there as Blake decided then was the perfect time to go back-to-back as he followed up Gouveia's homer with a solo-run of his own. The Beacs retook the field up 6-3.

The Bruins responded to the Beacons' run with a rally even more lethal than the Beacons. George Fox University recorded six runs in as many hits, initiated by the Bruins' graduate Jonathon Stone, who singled to right, and finished off by Balingit, as he legged out a bunt that allowed the sixth and final run to score. The Bruins added an additional four runs off three hits in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the dagger into the Beacs' baseball squad as they handed UMass Boston it's fourth loss of the season.

With the loss, the Beacons drop to .500 on the year, going 4-4 overall with their next matchup from their west coast trip on Thursday at 6:00pm EST as they look to swing back against the Wildcats of Linfield University from McMinnville, Oregon. Live stats and video coverage can be found at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com).