Match at MIT Steps Up Thursday Tilt vs. UMass Dartmouth for Baseball

BOSTON – Back-to-back outings are in store for the Suffolk baseball team yet again this season with the Rams traveling to Cambridge, Wednesday, April 26 for a midweek matchup at MIT at 4 p.m., before heading to East Boston Memorial Park Thursday, April 27 for a non-conference contest with UMass Dartmouth at 6 p.m.  

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LAST TIME OUT
Two days removed from lifting Suffolk baseball to victory, Sean Cameron did it again with another walk-off single to send the Rams over Lasell, 4-3, Sunday night at East Boston Memorial Park.       

MORE READING: Cameron Does It Again, Baseball Walks Off With 4-3 Win Over Lasell

RAMS RUNDOWN
Entering its final week of regular season conference competition, Suffolk, who is 20-9 on the season and 11-1 in league play, uses the two midweek non-conference contests for prep for the weekend. 

Eight of the Rams' nine everyday starters are average over .300 at the plate anchored by Suffolk's upperclassmen. Luke Ronchi and Seth Coiley both produce an average of .359 with the former knocking 37 hits, for 24 RBI and scoring 27 runs, while the latter brings 28 hits, 19 RBI and 20 runs to the table. Matt Brenner is third on the team, batting .343, and hits (35), with the senior catcher sitting second in runs scored (28) and RBI (26). Brady Chant leads the way for the Rams in multiple categories, registering 43 hits, 21 for extra bases including 10 doubles and 10 triples each. The junior centerfielder owns a slash line of .339/.399/.598, has brought in 23 runners and crossed home 31 times. 

Suffolk's staff has been anchored by the arms of Mark Fusco, Chuck Gibson and Ryan Pordes. Fusco's 1.24 leads the way as the junior right-handed pitcher has owns a 3-3 record in seven appearances, five starts with 29.0 innings worked and 19 Ks. Gibson is second on the squad with a 1.86 ERA through 38.2 innings. The senior is unbeaten, 5-0, in five starts with two saves and two complete games, fanning 29 batters. Pordes' 3.19 ERA rounds out the trio. The rightie has dealt the most for the Rams, 48.0 innings, to own a team-best 35 strikeouts.   

EYES ON THE ENGINEERS
MIT takes on Suffolk in a week in which it's scheduled to take the diamond every day. The Engineers are 17-10-1 on the season thanks to a 9-5 victory over Wheaton Monday. 

Matt Johnson's bat paces the Engineers at the plate with a stat line of .406/.441/.613 with 43 hits, 24 RBI and 23 runs scored. Austin Filiere's .390 average is second on the team, but the junior infielder is the best MIT hitter in slugging percentage .838, RBI (35) and runs scored (42) thanks to 41 hits. 

Zachary Kopstein is the top starter for MIT, entering Wednesday's game with a 1.91 ERA in 10 appearances, 28.1 frames with 30 Ks. Jack Murphy is the go-to closer for the Engineers, with the sophomore boasting three saves thanks to an ERA of 1.66 in 21.2 innings featuring 21 strikeouts. 

EYES ON THE GAME

CATCH UP ON THE CORSAIRS
In UMass Dartmouth's last outing, the Corsairs dropped a 7-2 decision to Rhode Island College to move to 19-14 on the year. 

At the plate, Taylor Cacciola's power of .435/.539/.713 is the top for the Corsairs as the senior infielder contributes 50 hits, 32 RBI and 23 runs.  Ezequiel Sanchez (.317) and Mike Knell (.305) are also every day starters producing quality numbers for Dartmouth. Sanchez adds 32 hits, 16 RBI and 20 runs, while Knell has notched 25 hits, 14 RBI and 25 runs. 

UMass staff does not own a starter with an ERA sub 2.00 as David Nichols' 2.35 ERA paves the path. The rookie has worked just 7.2 innings with eight strikeouts. Sean Callahan and Benjamin Lodges are the most experienced Corsairs on the mound, each own ERAs of 2.83 in 41.1 frames. Callahan has sat down 44 hitters, while Lodge struck out 38 batters.  

EYES ON THE GAME

NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES
Brady Chant added more accolades to his growing resume as the junior won this week's national poll conducted by Herosports.com as the Offensive HERO of the Week in Division III baseball. 

MORE READING: Chant Snags Vote: Named HeroSports.com DIII Offensive HERO of the Week 

TRIPLE TRANSCRPIT
Brady Chant rewrote the Rams' record books on Patriots Day as the junior knocked his 10th triple of the season bringing his career total to 20 to sit atop Suffolk's single-season all-time triple marks. 

MORE READING: Chant Sets Suffolk's Triple Record 

COMING UP
Suffolk wraps up the GNAC regular season Saturday at Johnson & Wales, before heading to Endicott for an out-of-league twin bill. Action both days gets underway at noon.