BEVERLY, Mass. – UMass Boston generated high offensive outputs in the top of the first and fourth innings, scoring a combined 10 runs in those two frames, en route to a 12-4 victory over Endicott after the Gulls Senior Day festivities at North Field.
Prior to Sunday's game, the Endicott baseball program recognized the contributions of nine senior student-athletes including tri-captains JJ Branch (Milford, Mass.), Josh Drew (Intervale, N.H.), and Nick Quattro (Canton, Conn.) as well as Steve Morganelli (Milford, Mass.), Corbin Hyde (Lewiston, Maine), Anthony Serina (Portsmouth, R.I.), Cody Hall (Rutland, Mass.), Matthew Paola (Middlebury, Conn.), and Davarn Nova (Buzzards Bay, Mass.).
The Beacons jumped out early on Endicott starting pitcher, sophomore Brady Hall (Rockville, Md.), putting three runs on the board before the Blue and Green went to their bullpen. Freshman outfielder Ryan Olivo (Rochester, N.Y.) singled to left center to for the game's first run, plating leadoff man sophomore Lionel Danielson (St. Croix, Virgin Islands). A bases loaded walk by freshman third baseman Kyle Boudrias (Medford, Mass.) followed by a RBI single off the bat of freshman outfielder Nick Herzog (Riverhead, N.Y.) forced Hall out of the game. UMass Boston would get one more run on a fielder's choice grounder to second by freshman first baseman Charlie Huegi (Sandy Hook, Conn.) that scored Anthony Searles (Shelton, Conn.) to give Beacons starter, sophomore lefty Sal Frosceno (Derby, Conn.), a 4-0 lead.
Frosceno cruised through his first two innings of work until the bottom of the third when Gulls sophomore outfielder Nick Berno (St. Albans, Vt.) cracked his first collegiate homerun, sending a 1-0 offering just over the left centerfield wall to make it a 4-1 game.
UMass Boston, however, would amass another big inning in the top of the fourth with six runs on four hits and one Endicott error to extend their lead up to 10-1. Two ground-rule doubles, one by junior shortstop Dave Murphy (Plymouth, Mass.) that scored two runs and another by Searles to deep centerfield, as well as two-RBI single up the middle by Olivo and a RBI groundout by Herzog all factored into the scoring.
Endicott got one run back in the bottom half of the fourth on an infield error that allowed senior catcher Josh Drew, who had singled to lead off the inning, to score from third base.
Searles would tack on the final two runs for the UMass Boston offense in the top of the sixth, sending a 0-1 pitch to deep right field for a two-run shot. Searles' fifth homerun of the season made it a 12-2 Beacon lead.
The Gulls picked up a run in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Paola which scored freshman Matt Bald (De Pere, Wisc.). Bald had pinch run for Serina who had doubled down the right field line with one out. One inning later in the bottom of the eighth, Endicott plated their fourth and final run on a pinch-hit RBI single to left by sophomore Brad Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.) that brought home Hyde from third base.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Endicott and UMass Boston played for the ninth time since their first meeting in 2009. The Gulls are now 7-2 all-time versus the Beacons and have now dropped their last two games.
- Endicott's class of 2016 has accumulated an overall record of 120-60 (.667) and a conference record of 53-11 (.828) while winning two CCC Championships with two NCAA New England Regional Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014.
- The Gulls used a combination of eight pitchers including senior Corbin Hyde who made his first appearance on the mound since May 16, 2014 in the NCAA New England Regional against Southern Maine. Hyde threw a scoreless frame with two hits allowed against UMass Boston while going 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, and a run scored.
- Freshman Liam Burke (Westwood, Mass.) had the longest outing for Endicott, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings with just one hit allowed.
FOR THE FOES
- UMass Boston ran their win streak to 11 games with the win. The Beacons have not lost since April 16th and have won 14 out of 15 games overall.
- Frosceno improved to 3-1 on the year after going six strong innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out two batters.
- Olivo and Searles both had three hits and three RBIs for the Beacons. Olivo, Searles, Murphy, and Danielson all scored at least two runs in the win.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (25-13, 13-3 CCC) will play in their final regular season game of the 2016 season on Monday, May 2 at Saint Joseph's (Me.) with a 4:00 p.m. first pitch. The Gulls will compete in the CCC Tournament starting later in the week. UMass Boston (24-12, 8-4 LEC) hosts Amherst on Wednesday, May 4 at Monan Park starting at 7:15 p.m.
