BOX SCORE

BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Babson College baseball team defeated visiting University of Massachusetts Boston on Friday afternoon, 8-0, in a non-conference matchup at Govoni Field. The Beavers were paced by senior pitcher Dave Ahern (Bedford, Mass.) who pitched eight full inning allowing only five hits with no runs and five strikeouts. With the win, Babson improves to 23-9 on the season and UMass Boston dips to 8-13.

Both teams held each other scoreless for the first four and a half innings until Babson tallied four of their eight runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Junior first-baseman Travis Jonasson (Needham, Mass.) got the Beavers their first hit of the day with a single to right field. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch. A double from junior Billy Miller (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) would then bring home Jonasson for the first run. A walk for first-year Chris Warren (Medfield, Mass.) followed by a single from sophomore Pat Matvichuck (Middleton, Mass.) would then load the bases for Babson. Senior Sean Pucciarelli (Robbinsville, N.J.) was then brought in to pinch hit and came up big with a single to right field bringing in Miller. Another single for the Beavers from sophomore Joe Nixon (Foxboro, Mass.) would send Matvichuk and Warren home to give Babson the 4-0 lead.

Babson tacked on another run in the 6th when sophomore Chris Kucher (Westwood, Mass.) got on base after being hit by a pitch and then advanced to third on two consecutive wild pitches. He was brought home by a sacrifice fly from Miller.

In the 7th, junior catcher Sean Cleary (Milton, Mass.) bunted to get on base and advanced to second on a Beacon throwing error. He then advanced home on a wild pitch putting the Beavers up, 6-0.

Babson's final two runs came in the eighth when Jonasson earned a spot on the bases after being hit by a pitch. He then advanced to second when Kucher got walked and the two runners advanced again on another wild pitch. A single from Matvichuk would send in both runs giving the Beavers their eighth and final runs.

The Beacons best chance of the day came in the fifth inning when sophomore Nick Grassetti (Agawam, Mass.) got on base with a bunt and then stole second. He advanced to third on a groundout but would be unable to score as the final Beacon batter lined out to the third baseman.

Matvichuk led Babson with two hits and two RBI. As a team the Beavers finished with eight hits and seven earned runs. Ahern went eight full innings on the mound allowing only five hits while striking out five. Senior Austin Dadio (Branford, Conn.) came into the game in the top of the ninth producing a 1-2-3 inning to end the game.

The Beacons were led by senior Connor Reinfurt (Manchester, N.H.) who finished with two hits. First-year Will Barrack (Lancaster, Va.) pitched a solid 5.2 innings allowing five hits and five runs while striking out four.

 Babson will host Bates on Saturday afternoon at 4pm in a non-conference matchup at Govoni Field while UMass Boston will host Little East Conference rival, Eastern Connecticut State University in a doubleheader beginning at noon.