BOSTON, MA (March 30, 2024) – The UMass Boston Beacons secure a pair of Little East Conference victories serving as the away team from Monan Park in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday evening as they come back six runs in game win to secure a 10-8 victory, followed by a 12-0 run-rule victory in game-two.

Game One

Junior right-handed pitcher Ross Dexter started on the bump and went three innings in his stint to start the game. He saw 20 batters and struck out three while walking two others. Senior Dillon Ryan came in for Dexter in the fourth inning and went the distance for the remaining six innings. Ryan faced 22 batters, threw 90 pitches, struck out nine, and walked one as he only allowed four total hits from the Spartans, as Ryan gets credited with the save in game one over Castleton.

The Beacs had nine different players record hits in game one, led by sophomore Breon Parker, and junior Mike Meagher each with two hits in four at-bats with a run scored. First-year Brandon Gaer recorded his second home run of the season in the fifth inning to score two runs, as he led the team with three RBIs in game one. First-year Elliot Miles and sophomore Justin Gouveia each recorded doubles along with senior Bostyn Burris who added an RBI triple in the sixth inning. Gouveia, Parker, and Gaer each recorded two stolen bases to contribute to the victory.

UMass Boston struck the scoreboard first after Gaer grounded into a fielder's choice at shortstop that allowed Gouveia to come across to score on an unearned run. The Beacons would tally another while holding the Spartans scoreless through the first two innings. Meagher doubled the Beacons' lead in the second inning with an RBI single to center to score Gouveia once again unearned.

The Spartans got into a groove in the third inning and took the Beacons for a ride for eight runs on six hits to put the pedal to the medal on the scoreboard, as the Beacs found themselves in the hole by five runs heading into the fourth inning.

The fourth inning saw no progress for the Beacs, but the fifth inning showed some resiliency for UMass Boston, as they were able to get back in the game with four runs on five hits. The rally was initiated off a Gouveia walk that he immediately parlayed into a stolen base to get into scoring position. He was advanced off a Burris ground out and later came to score from senior Aidan Blake's RBI single to left field. Blake came around to score with Gaer following his two-run homer he blasted over the Monan Park Monster. Senior infielder Mike Gorman batted in the final run of the inning following his single through the right side that allowed Miles to come across unearned. 

The Beacons' defense continued to hold the Spartans scoreless led by Dillon on the mound for the remainder of the game, however the fifth inning rally only produced five runs, leaving the Beacons with some work to do in the final stretch of play.

Burris' triple in the sixth inning brought across Parker to finally level the scoring at eight apiece with just three more at-bats per team. With the opportunities winding down, the momentum was leaning all the way in favor of the Beacons.

Blake added the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning off a fielder's choice that allowed junior Mariano Jimenez to score unearned, breaking the ice for UMass Boston and putting them over the top 9-8. The final run of game one came from sophomore Nick Farnacci off a sacrifice bunt that allowed Meagher to come across to score on an RBI.

With the win in game one the Beacons advanced to 10-7 on the season and 3-0 in Little East Conference play.

Game Two

Graduate right-handed pitcher Max Moss started on the bump in game two for the Beacons and pitched for six innings, saw 22 batters, threw for 80 pitches, struck out 10, walked one, and only allowed three hits on zero runs as he was credited with his fourth win in four starts on the mound this season. Sophomore Justin DeFalco and senior Sam Gray each came in for an inning to relieve Moss of his duties after six innings. DeFalco pitched against five batters, threw for 24 pitches, and struck out two in one inning of action. Gray closed out in the top of the eighth inning to strike out the side before the Beacons run ruled the Spartans in eight innings.

The Beacons score 12 runs on 13 hits- tied for a season high- led by Gouveia and Burris who each recorded three hits in five ABs. Gouveia recorded two doubles and a triple along with two RBIs and two runs scored, with Burris recording an RBI, a stolen base, and three runs scored in the outing. Blake, Miles, and Jimenez each recorded doubles as nine of the 12 total runs came from RBIs. Senior Luke Leavitt along with Burris and senior Luke Leavitt each recorded stolen bases as the Beacons offense totals the Spartans in game two.  

The Beacs went on four separate rallies on their way to a 12-0 victory. The first bout of offense came in the first inning, following Aidan Blake's sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Bostyn Burris. Brandon Gaer would bring in Burris on an RBI single to center field to jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the first.

Following a few innings of scoreless action thanks to the heroics of Moss on the mound, the Beacons rallied once again in the top of the third inning, this time scoring three runs. The three runs came off a little league home run from Elliot Miles, as he doubled, and then came around to score on an error by the Spartans' shortstop, along with Mike Meagher and Burris. The wild
sequence furthered the Beacons' lead to 5-0 heading into the fourth inning.

The Beacons continued to drop the hammer in the sixth inning, mercilessly adding four more runs to push the needle to 9-0 at the conclusion of the inning. The first of the four came from a Gouveia triple down the right field line that he used his speed to stretch into extra bases. His triple comfortably brought Breon Parker home to score for the first of the rally. Burris' single up the middle would bring home Gouveia from third for the second of the inning. The next run came off Blake's ground rule double that brought Burris home to score automatically for the third penultimate run of the inning. The fourth and final came from a wild pitch that allowed Blake to score to put the Beacons up9-0 by the end of the inning.

The final offensive push came in the eighth inning, where the Beacons added three more fatal runs to serve as the final inning of the doubleheader. The first came from Luke Leavitt's double to left center to bring home first-year Ryan Slack. Sophomore Ryan Slack scored on a passed ball to increase the lead to 11-0. Gouveia's fly out to center field would be deep enough to bring home Leavitt for the final run in the onslaught, as the Beacons secure the victory in game two, and the doubleheader sweep on Saturday evening.

With the pair of wins, the Beacs improve to 11-7 on the year, and stay undefeated in conference play (4-0). UMass Boston baseball's next matchup is slated for Tuesday, April 2, at 7:00pm from Monan Park. Live stats and video coverage can be found at https://beaconsathletics.com/sports/baseball/schedule.