BOSTON, MA (March 20, 2024) – The UMass Boston baseball team fell 7-9 against the Wildcats of Johnson and Wales University from their home field of Monan Park on Wednesday afternoon, as 10 hits and seven runs was not enough for the Beacons in their homecoming to Monan Park.

Senior right-hander Dillon Ryan started out for UMass on the mound and toughed it out for five full innings, throwing 111 pitches, as he faced 28 batters, struck out eight, and walked two. The Beacons needed five other pitchers to close out the game, as sophomore Justin DeFalco came in to relieve Ryan, as he pitched for 1.1 innings, threw 18 pitches against six batters, and struck out two. Seniors Brendan Ferrari and Thomas Kierce followed DeFalco with .2 innings pitched each, then closed out by the graduate Tim Cianciolo, and finally senior Ethan Errera came out to close out the final inning. The Beacons batted for the cycle as a team, with first-year Elliot Miles, and sophomore Nick Farnacci each recording a double for their only hit in the game. Sophomore Justin Gouveia recorded one hit and came around to score twice in his four at bats. Senior Aidan Blake sent a homer to center field in the second inning for a team-high two RBIs.

JWU hit the ground running in the top of the first inning, wasting no time putting up the first tallies of the game off a fielder's choice and an RBI single to left. The Beacons promptly responded at the flip of the inning as first-year Brandon Gaer sent a fly ball deep enough to count as a sacrifice fly as Gouveia would come around to score the first of seven runs for the Beacons, as they headed into the second down by a single run.

 The Wildcats looked to push the needle by adding another run in the top of the second inning off an unearned run, however the Beacons ultimately took the lead in the second inning following Blake's two-run homer to score himself and Gouveia.

The Wildcats would keep the pace, as they once again retained level scoring off an RBI double in the top of the third for JWU to even things up at four apiece. Back-and-forth the Beacons and Wildcats went blow for blow, as the score remained even at 5-5 for just one inning before sophomore Breon Parker would once again break the ice between the two teams, scoring senior Luke Leavitt in a ground out to second base.

The Wildcats would answer Parker, this time with lethal force, at the turn of the inning. In the seventh and eight inning, the Wildcats would score three more fatal runs to bring their totals to nine on the day, as junior Reed Burkett- Schneider's final push to score junior Mike Meagher would be the Beacons' last in the effort from Monan Park in their homecoming following their spring break West Coast trip.

With the loss today, the Beacons fall to 6-7, with an opportunity to bring their record back above .500 on Friday, March 22 in a doubleheader against the Wolves of Western Connecticut from the Beacons' home field of Monan Park in Boston Massachusetts, for UMass Boston's first baseball conference action of the season. For live stats and video coverage, visit UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com).