NORTON, MA- The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth rallied
for 11 straight runs to overcome an early six-run deficit before
holding off 15th-ranked Wheaton College, 12-9 in non-conference
baseball action on Thursday at Sidell Stadium. The Lyons slipped to
29-11, while the Corsairs improved to 12-24.
Junior Tom Ladore (Milford, CT/Joseph A. Foran)
put the Corsairs ahead with a two-out RBI double in the second
inning, as his sinking line drive was narrowly missed by a Wheaton
fielder, but Lyon senior shortstop Nick Pecora (Highland
Park, NJ/Immaculata) slid to his left and tossed to first
in retiring the next batter.
The Lyons plated four runs on three hits in the home half to
grab the lead. Sophomore Tad Skelley (Wolfeboro,
NH/Holderness School) was hit by a pitch with the bases
loaded to force in the tying run, and freshman Hal Landers
(Salem, NH/Salem) singled a pair home as the next batter.
Pecora made a backhanded diving catch in the top of the third
inning, and right fielder Landers ended the frame with a catch in
foul territory while running into the fence. In the home half,
Landers keyed a three-run inning by coming through with a two-out,
two-run single to make it 7-1.
In the fourth, the Corsairs put two on with no one out, but
senior southpaw Brian Hughes (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill
Regional) fanned the next two batters before sophomore
center fielder Hadi Raad (Hastings-on-Hudson,
NY/Hastings) made a sliding catch in right center to end
the threat.
The visitors got three runs back in the fifth, as the inning was
keyed by sophomore Matt Ryan's (Uxbridge,
MA/Uxbridge) two-out, two-run single. With runners at
second and third and two down, Hughes fanned the final hitter. In
the bottom half, the Corsairs' corner outfielders each made
tremendous catches, with sophomore right fielder Pete
Beksha (Franklin, MA/Franklin) snaring a high line drive
for the first out and classmate Carlos Sanchez (Millbury,
MA/Millbury) diving into the corner in left for the second
out.
UMass-Dartmouth grabbed its first lead since the second inning
by scoring four runs on just one hit in the seventh, as the first
three came home despite the initial six batters of the frame not
hitting the ball out of the infield. Sophomore Ryan
McDermott (Pembroke, MA/Pembroke) punched a go-ahead RBI
single into center with two out, and Ryan added a one-out,
run-scoring knock in the eighth before three runs came home on an
outfield miscue.
Junior Paul Malaguti (Andover, MA/Andover)
homered with one down in the eighth before Landers beat out an
infield single with the bases loaded and two out, making it 12-9.
However, the Lyons left the bases jammed.
Malaguti went 4-for-6 with three runs, two doubles and the home
run, while Landers picked up three hits, five RBI and two steals
from the leadoff spot. Freshman Dan Haugh (Andover,
MA/Saint John's Prep) was 2-for-4 with two runs, Pecora
notched two hits, and freshman Dan Demeo (Glastonbury,
CT/Glastonbury) walked three times while scoring three
runs. Senior Karl Olson (Bethel, ME/Gould Academy)
took the loss.
Ryan was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs for the Corsairs,
Beksha was 3-for-4 with two runs, freshman Dan DeMello
(Taunton, MA/Taunton) had two hits and two runs, while
senior Casey Askeland (Dartmouth, MA/Dartmouth)
notched three walks and three runs. Junior Adam Gustafson
(Dighton, MA/Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) picked up the win
in relief, and freshman Pat Lavey (Cranston, RI/Cranston
East) had the save.
Wheaton is back in action tomorrow at Brandeis University at
5:30 p.m.
