Baseball Visits UMass Boston, Hosts RIC This Weekend

BOSTON – Suffolk is set for its first New England action of the 70th season of baseball as the Rams head to UMass Boston Saturday, March 25, before entertaining Rhode Island College at East Boston Memorial Park Sunday. The doubleheader versus the Beacons has a 12 p.m. start, while the Anchormen head to Eastie for a 1 p.m. nine-inning duel.  

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RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk started its season on a high note, defeating then No. 9 St. John Fisher, 11-3, and then No. 6 Ramapo, 9-3, before capping off a three-game winning stretch with a 10-9, 12-inning triumph over Montclair State. The victories led the Rams to the program's third-ever national ranking at No. 24 in the third week of the D3Baseball.com/NCBWA poll. Suffolk met its matches down the stretch of its Spring Break trip to head back to New England 4-5 overall. 

Seth Coiley is the most consistent Ram in his trips to the plate with the junior producing a team-best .381 average with eight hits, including three doubles, to bring in three runs and score two himself. Leadoff hitter Brady Chant, who is hitting .341, paces the team in hits 15, including six for extra bases (four doubles, one triple, one homer), to go along with six RBI and five run scores. The junior outfielder also ties Sean Cameron, who is second on the team at the dish with a .375 average, in stolen bases with four snipes apiece. Seniors Kevin Belskie (.351) and Luke Ronchi (.333) are second on the team in hits (18) and lead the way in runs scored with eight each. Ronchi has nine RBI to his credit, while Belskie owns five. 

On the hill, the reigning GNAC Corvias Pitcher of the Week Ryan Pordes owns the best ERA at 2.25 in two appearances and one start. In 12.0 innings, the junior let up just three runs on 12 hits and struck out eight batters. Chuck Gibson's 2.30 ERA sits second on the squad with the senior hurler facing some of the nation's top competition. Gibson has seen the most action, 15.2 innings, giving up seven runs, four earned, on 17 hits and sat down seven hitters. Worth Walrod (2.77 ERA) and Tim Conroy (3.72 ERA) have proved to be consistent starting arms for Suffolk with Mark Fusco as the go-to relief pitcher.

BIT 'BOUT THE BEACONS
UMass Boston split two games in Boston before trekking to the Sunshine State where the Beacons went identical to the Rams, picking up three straight wins, before losing its grove in the tail end of the trip to bring a 5-4 record into Saturday. 

Sal Frosceno leads the way at bat for the Beacons with a .406 average on team-high 13 hits in 32 appearances with four RBI and six runs scored. Nick Herzog, who is hitting .306, boasts a team-high 10 RBI and eight runs thanks to 11 hits and two walks. 

Sixteen different arms from UMass Boston's bullpen have taken the bump for the Beacons this season. Bryan Kaufman owns the lowest ERA amongst the starters at 2.16 in 8.1 innings of work with three runs allowed, two earned, off 10 hits and four Ks. Dan Mantoni has seen the most action on the hill for UMass putting together a 3.94 ERA in 16.0 innings. The senior right handed pitcher has let up nine runs, seven earned, on 17 hits and punched out 11 hitters.

EYES ON THE GAME

A LOOK AT THE ANCHORMEN
Rhode Island headed to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational to jump start its season where it went 8-3. Upon returning to New England, the Anchormen defeated Emerson 11-4 and will play a doubleheader at Bridgewater State Saturday before facing the Rams Sunday. 

Austin Barry's bat leads the way on 19 hits, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored. Frank Pettinato, who holds a team-high .475 average, also has 19 hits to go along with eight RBI and six runs scored. 

Anchormen starter Erry Baldayac brings a 0.90 ERA into the weekend action. In 10.0 innings he allowed just one run, on four hits and owns 12 Ks. Jake Murray (2.57 ERA, 7 Ks) and Daniel Greaves (11.57 ERA, 13 Ks) have put in the most work on the hill this season for RIC, dealing 14.0 innings each. 

EYES ON THE GAME

COMING UP
Suffolk will use back-to-back mid-week non-conference contests at Salem State (Wednesday, March 29) and Bridgewater State (Thursday, March 30) to prep for the opening of GNAC action Saturday, April 1 when Albertus Magnus travels to Beantown for a league twin bill.