UMass Dartmouth Squeaks Past Fitchburg State, 3-2 (14 inn.)

Kelley tosses 7.1 strong innings in no-decision effort

N. DARTMOUTH, Mass. (April 3, 2014) – Sophomore Joe Zottoli (Holden, Mass.) delivered a two-out double to right centerfield to break a 2-all deadlock in the top of the 14th inning, lifting the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth baseball team to a 3-2 victory over Fitchburg State University this afternoon at the UMD Baseball Field.

With two outs in the top of the 14th inning, senior Wayne Bolz (Billerica, Mass.) keyed the two-run rally with an infield single.  Zottoli laced an 0-1 pitch into the right centerfield gap to score the speedy Bolz from first.

Freshman Ted Savage (Plymouth, Mass.) slammed the down shut in the bottom half of the inning to earn his first collegiate save, striking out the first two batters before stranding the tying run at first. 

Junior Ryan Medeiros (Acushnet, Mass.) sparked the UMass Dartmouth (6-8) offensive attack with four hits, including a pair of doubles, a run scored, and a RBI.  Sophomore Matt Russell (Townsend, Mass.) went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and eight infield assists at second base.  Junior George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) reached base safely four times with a single, double and two intentional walks, while Zottoli also registered mutli-hits for the "visitors." 

Sophomore George Bent (Barnstable, Mass.) was outstanding for the Corsairs this afternoon, scattering eight hits and an unearned run over the course of nine innings.  Freshman Tucker Bouchard (Kingston, Mass.) came on in relief to pitch a scoreless 10th, while sophomore Josh Tombs (Kingston, R.I.) limited the Falcons to one run on two hits to collect his first collegiate victory.

UMass Dartmouth opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, when Medeiros led off with a double down the left field line.  With one out, Agostini followed suit to give the Corsairs the early 1-0 lead.

Fitchburg State (13-6) responded in the bottom of the second inning.  Sophomore Derrick Frazier (Beverly, Mass.) opened the frame with an infield single to the left side of the diamond.  The Falcons attempted to push the runner to second with a sacrifice bunt, but were able to benefit from a UMD defensive miscue.  Fitchburg State employed the same strategy, successfully moving the runner over to third with one out.  Junior Clayton Beaulieu (Chicopee, Mass.) evened the ledger with a ground out to first base.

Both starting pitchers began to settle into a groove over the next few innings.  The Falcons put the potential go-ahead run on third base in the fourth and seventh innings, while the Corsairs placed runners in scoring position in the sixth and eighth, respectively.

UMass Dartmouth was finally able to solve sophomore relief pitcher Javier Lozada (New Bedford, Mass.) in the top of the 13th inning.  Russell broke up Lozada's string of 13 consecutive batters with a single up the middle and stole second to move into scoring position.  Medeiros drilled a single into right field to give the Corsairs a 2-1 lead.  UMass Dartmouth threatened to tack on a few insurance runs, but Lozada was able to work out of a bases-loaded, one out jam.

Fitchburg State answered in the bottom half of the inning to extend the contest.  Frazier was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double by sophomore Brendan Cutler (Lancaster, Mass.).  Following an intentional walk, Beaulieu hit a slicing liner to centerfield that Medeiros snagged with a diving catch, but was able to score Frazier from third to forge a 2-all tie.

The Falcons used a well-balanced attack as five student-athletes recorded two hits apiece.  Beaulieu was hitless in his five plate appearances, but drove in both runs.  Freshman Jake Kelley (North Chelmsford, Mass.) earned a no-decision after throwing 7.1 innings.  He allowed one run on eight hits, but strike out eight.      
 
Fitchburg State is back in action tomorrow as it travels to Johnson and Wales University at 4 p.m.