MIT Bats Held In Check In Season Opening Loss at UMass Boston

BOSTON, Mass. – Playing the first game in it's new home park, Monan Field, UMass Boston made it a successful debut, taking a 4-0 decision over MIT in the 2016 season baseball opener for both teams. The Beacons' pitching staff held the Engineers without a hit until there was one out in the ninth, paving the way for their victory.

Over the first three innings it was a battle of the starters, with MIT (0-1) seeing junior David Hesslink (San Diego, Calif.) going three strong innings and allowing just a pair of hits, while UMass Boston (1-0) received three hitless innings from Dan Mantoni, who worked around four walks.

UMass Boston broke the deadlock when it opened the fifth inning with a single by Kyle Boudrais and a double from Bryan Dupre that put runners on the corners. With one down a bunt single by Sal Frosceno brought home the first run, with Dupre later scoring when Frosceno was thrown out at second trying to steal.

That would prove to be all that the Beacons would need as their pitching held MIT in check for the entire game. JT Morin followed Mantoni to the mound and threw three hitless innings, striking out six to pick up the win. UMass Boston added runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Lionel Danielson, with Frosceno adding another run-scoring infield hit in the seventh.

With one out in the top of the ninth senior Kendall Helbert (St. Louis, Mo.) broke up the no-hit bid with a single up the middle. Senior Nate Rodman (Corvallis, Ore.) followed with a double to left, but the last two Engineers were retired to preserve the shutout.

Frosceno finished with a 3-for-4 day and two RBI, with Dupre and Boudrais adding two hits apiece for the Beacons. For MIT freshman Jared Schwait (Boca Raton, Fla.) drew a pair of walks and stole two bases in his collegiate debut.

MIT will be back on the field on Saturday, March 12 when the Engineers will travel to New Jersey for a doubleheader with the Stevens Institute of Technology starting at 1:00 p.m.