MEDFORD, MASS (March 27, 2024) – Sophomore right-hander Ethan Hunt went 7.1 innings from the bump for the Beacons, as UMass Boston held the Jumbos of Tufts University to just three runs on five hits, with the Beacons coming back home to Boston with the 6-3 victory over the Jumbos.

Hunt started on the mound for the Beacs, and went the distance for 7.1 innings, as he threw 84 pitches against 28 batters, struck out five, walked two, and held the Jumbos to just three runs on five hits. Senior Brandan Ferrari came in to relieve Hunt in the bottom of the eighth, threw for just the eighth inning against three batters in a one-two-three inning, followed by graduate Tim Cianciolo who came in on the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning, and struck out one of the three batters he faced to bring home the victory for UMass. Hunt was credited with the win and improved to 3-0 on the season from the bump, while Cianciolo was credited with the save, his first of the year.

The Beacons recorded 11 hits as a team, with sophomore Breon Parker leading the way with three hits in four at-bats to go with an RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Seniors Bostyn Burris and Aidan Blake each recorded two hits in their plate appearances, with Blake securing a team-high two RBIs off a single to left in the first inning, followed by a solo home run in the seventh - his fifth of the year.

UMass opened the game with force, adding two runs to begin the top of the first off Blake's RBI single to left that would score sophomore Justin Gouveia, but would get greedy and was thrown out at second following the throw into the infield trying to stretch the single into extra bases. First-year catcher Brandon Gaer would force another run to come in following an error on a fielder's choice that would see Burris come across to score. The Beacs flipped the inning with two left on base while leading 2-0 to begin the game. The Jumbos were able to bring one back at the bottom of the first following an RBI single down the Sol
Gittleman right-field line.

Gouveia responded in the top of the second with a single through the gap between third and second to score Parker from second. The two defenses would dual back and forth as the two teams went scoreless for the next three innings, as the Beacons were able to hang onto a one-run lead.

The sixth inning brought Parker home to score for the Beacons on a Jumbos' error at shortstop, with Tufts responding at the flip with an RBI single through the left-side gap to bring the scoring to 4-2 with three innings to go.

The Beacons would strike again in the seventh inning with Blake's solo blast to left field to push the needle to 5-3 in favor of UMass. The Jumbos responded again at the flip of the inning, as both teams were going blow for blow trying to edge away from their opponent with the end in sight. Tufts would score in the seventh inning off an RBI double down the left-field line.

The final dagger from UMass would come from none other than Parker, whose single to center field would score sophomore Nick Farnacci to put the nail in the cross for Tufts, as UMass would come away victorious 6-3.

With the win, the Beacons improved to 9-7 on the season, with their next matchup slated for tomorrow, Thursday, March 28^th against the Golden Bears of Western New England University from Springfield, Massachusetts. Live stats and updates for the game can be found at our website UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com).