Corsairs blank Seahawks, 2-0

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Junior Alex Newton (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) drilled a bases-loaded double into right field to account for the only runs of the contest as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth baseball team shutout visiting Salve Regina University 2-0 this afternoon.

The Corsairs (9-11) were able to capitalize on a pair of Seahawks' (15-9) defensive miscues to break the scoreless game in the bottom of the seventh.  The first two UMass Dartmouth batters reached on errors to place runners at first and third with no outs.  Junior Ryan Medeiros (Acushnet, Mass./New Bedford) stole second to move into scoring position and classmate George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) drew a one-out walk to load the bases.  Newton laced an 0-1 pitch into the bottom of the right field fence to plate a pair of runs, but Agostini was cut down at the plate trying to score from first.  

Sophomore Josh Tombs (Kingstown, R.I./South Kingstown), who came on in relief in the previous inning, induced a 6-4-3 ground ball double play to erase a lead off walk then retired the next batter to earn his second victory of the season.  Junior Ben Monteiro (Swansea, Mass./Joseph Case) hurled a scoreless ninth inning to record his first save of the season.  

Salve Regina was unable to solve sophomore starter Aaron Chouinard (Swansea, Mass./Joseph Case).  Chouinard scattered seven hits and three walks, while striking out six to earn the no-decision.

Sophomore Connor Shaw (Goffstown, N.H.) and classmate Matt Russell (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) joined Newton with one hit.  Shaw also drew a pair of walks and was hit by a pitch to reach base four times, while Russell scored the winning run.

The Seahawks used a total of eight pitchers in the ballgame, combining to allow just three hits.  Freshman Cory Poplawski (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) threw three scoreless innings, while senior Vincent Roth (Pleasant Valley, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) and junior Kyle Pheland (North Scituate, R.I.) each worked a frame.  Sophomore Mike Schuermann (Rockville Centre, N.Y. / South Side) did not record an out to suffer his first setback of the season.

Sophomore Ryan Kelly (Waldwick, N.J./Bergen Catholic) went 3-for-4 with a double to lead the visitors, and senior Anthony Conte (Georgetown, Mass.) was 1-for-3 with two walks.