NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. (courtesy UMass Dartmouth sports information) -The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's baseball team scored seven runs in their first three at bats and went on to defeat visiting Brandeis, 11-4, in a non-conference game at the UMass Dartmouth Athletic Complex Sunday. With the loss, the Judges close their season with an 11-24 record.
Rookie left-hander Nick Fuller (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) was the beneficiary of the early support. He pitched the first six innings, allowing just one run and two hits and earning the victory, improving his record to 2-1.
The Corsairs took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an
RBI ground out by junior designated hitter Zak Talis (Lynnfield,
Mass./Lynnfield) and an RBI single by junior catcher Matt Ryan
(Uxbridge, Mass./Uxbridge). Junior second baseman Dan DeMello
(Taunton, Mass./Taunton ) scored on a wild pitch by Brandeis junior
right-hander John McGrath (New York, N.Y./Trevor Day) in the bottom
of the second inning to make it 3-0.
Senior center fielder Jeff Macchi (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) led
off the third with a double, stole third and scored when the throw
down went awry. DeMello singled home another run, junior first
baseman Anthony Fiorita (North Reading, Mass./St. John's Prep) hit
a sacrifice fly to make it 6-0, and freshman right fielder Matt
Worden (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) singled to make it 7-0.
Rookie left fielder Chris Ferro (Walpole,
Mass./Walpole) hit a solo homer in the fourth to put Brandeis on
the board. It was his team-leading fifth home run and 25th RBI of
the season. The Judges scored three runs in the eighth. Junior
center fielder Tony Deshler (Pepperell,
Mass./Lawrence Academy), sophomore shortstop Sean
O'Hare (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire Regional) and
sophomore third baseman Jon Chu (Hollis Hills,
N.Y./Bronx Science) all singled home runs to make it 8-4.
The Corsairs added three runs in their half of the eighth. Senior left fielder Tom Ladore (Milford, Conn./Foran) singled home a pair, and scored the third on a wild pitch.
Macchi finished with four hits, including two doubles, while Ladore, DeMello and Ryan each had three. Senior right fielder John O'Brion (Portland, Maine/Portland) had three hits for the Judges. McGrath took the loss for Brandeis and fell to 1-4.