Baseball Edges UMass Dartmouth, 3-2

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Junior right-hander Jim Balboni (Townsend, Mass.) tossed a five-hitter and host Bridgewater State scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Bears edged visiting UMass Dartmouth, 3-2, in non-conference baseball action on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Park.

The Bears broke a 2-2 tie when they scored the go-ahead run in the eighth. Senior catcher Matt Greenberg (Norwell, Mass.) singled with one out, stole second and scored on a two-out base hit by junior second baseman Dave Billotte (Norton, Mass.).

The Corsairs had come close to taking the lead in their half of the eighth. With one out, senior designated hitter Matt Ryan (Uxbridge, Mass.) and senior catcher Zac Talis (Lynnfield, Mass.) singled, with Ryan taking third. Sophomore right fielder Matt Worden (New Bedford, Mass.) hit a hard grounder down the third base line, but BSU junior third baseman Matt Barsaleau (Holland, Mass.) made a diving stop and threw Ryan out at the plate.

UMass Dartmouth trailed early, 1-0, but rallied to take the lead in the top of the fifth. With one out, sophomore left fielder Cory Albanese (Weymouth, Mass.) singled for the first hit off Balboni. After junior shortstop Andrew Candon (Cranston, R.I.) was hit by a pitch, McDermott doubled Albanese home. Freshman second baseman Bedward Ortiz (Worcester, Mass.) grounded into a fielder's choice to score Candon.

BSU tied it in the last of the sixth. With two away, sophomore first baseman David Pierce (East Bridgewater, Mass.) walked, advanced to second on a base hit by Billotte, and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Barsaleau.

The Bears had taken a 1-0 lead in the last of the third inning. With two outs, Greenberg doubled to right center scoring sophomore center fielder John Garabedian (Mansfield, Mass.). Garabedian had led off the frame with a single and moved to second two outs later when junior left fielder Ian Williams (Taunton, Mass.) was hit by a pitch.  Williams tried to score all the way from first on Greenberg's two-bagger but was cut down at the plate.

Balboni (2-0) went all the way for the win as he walked four and struck out six in a 143-pitch effort.

UMD senior starter Brian Pedrotti (Dalton, Mass.) went the first 7 2/3 innings and took the loss.  Pedrotti (0-3) allowed three runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out four.

Greenberg, Billotte and sophomore shortstop Jose Polanco (Lawrence, Mass.) had two hits apiece for the Bears.

Bridgewater State (6-5) will host a doubleheader with Rhode Island College on Sunday at noon, while UMass (6-5) visits Johnson and Wales University on Friday.