MCLA Sweeps UMass Boston; 17-7, 9-5

 AUBURNDALE, FL  - Joe Harrington (Pittsfield, MA) and Derek Gibbons (Rochester, MA) each collected five hits and knocked in five runs to pace a 26-run attack for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts baseball team in a doubleheader sweep over University of Massachusetts Boston with wins by margins of 17-7 and 9-5 today in Auburndale, FL at Myrtle Lake Park in the RussMatt Invitational.  The games were the first of the season for both teams as the Trailblazers improve to 2-0, while the Beacons fall to 0-2.

Massachusetts College scored six runs in the first two innings, keyed by a two-out run-scoring single by Gibbons in the first and RBI doubles by Joe Parillo (West Springfield, MA) and Tim Burns (Pittsfield, MA) to go with an RBI triple by John Ripepi (Amsterdam, NY) and a run-scoring single by Rick Massey (Pittsfield, MA).  UMass Boston rallied in the top of the third inning for four runs to cut the deficit to 6-4, thanks to a two-run single from sophomore third baseman Dan Noonan (Westport, MA), an RBI double by senior designated hitter Eric Salvador (Middleboro, MA) and a run-producing single from sophomore second baseman Ryan Walsh (Newton, MA).  The Beacons kept the momentum going in the top of the next frame with three runs to take a 7-6 edge.  Senior center fielder Ryan Oshima (La Jolla, CA) and Walsh each worked two out walks to set up an RBI single from Salvador, before sophomore catcher Tim Fontaine (Worcester, MA) singled to left center to give UMB the lead.

The Trailblazers matched the output with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth and put up four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to take a 17-7 lead to enact the invitational's 10-run rule.  Gibbons cracked a two-run double in each of the fifth and sixth innings to fuel the offensive outburst, while Harrington drove in a pair of runs with a single in the fourth.

James Greeley (Newton, MA) earned the victory, going four innings, while allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and four walks to go with three strikeouts.  Freshman left-hander Mark McCormack (Shelton, CT) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits and a walk, while fanning two batters in two and a third innings pitched.

UMass Boston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first of the second game after the first three batters all reached to load the bases and Fontaine drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to center field.  Noonan later knocked in the second run with a single to right field.  MCLA got on the board with four runs in the top of the third inning to take a 4-2 advantage when it loaded the bases with one out and Massey drew a walk to force in a run, followed by a Gibbons' RBI single to center field, another bases loaded walk by Burns and a sacrifice fly by Paul Procopio (Pittsfield, MA).  The Beacons pulled to within 4-3 in the bottom of the frame after Walsh smacked a lead-off double to left field and later came around to score on a Fontaine sacrifice fly to center, but the Trailblazers tacked on a run in the fourth and four more in the fifth to take a 9-3 advantage.  Harrington tripled down the right field line in the fourth and later trotted home on a single through the left side by Massey.  Harrington highlighted the fifth for MCLA with a two-run single to center field.  The Beacons struck for two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was all they could muster.  Salvador and junior left fielder Drew Tambling (Sterling, MA) each knocked in single runs with a base hit.

Massachusetts College southpaw Daniel Gaines (Holyoke, MA) picked up the victory, yielding three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks, while setting down four batters on strikes and junior Mike Andriano (Massapequa, NY) was saddled with the loss for UMass Boston after giving up nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits and six walks in addition to three strikeouts.

Noonan led the Beacons at the plate, going 4-6 with a double and three runs batted in, while Walsh collected four hits, including a pair of doubles and scored four times to go with an RBI.  Salvador finished the day going 3-6 with two doubles and three RBI.

UMass Boston will be in action again when they take on defending national champion Trinity College (CT) in Auburndale tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., while the Trailblazers play a doubleheader with McDaniel College at 10:00 a.m.