UMass Boston Scores 7-4 Victory Against Salem State

SALEM, Mass. - Ben Gottesman (Acton, Mass.) threw a dominating performance with 10 strikeouts in 5.1 innings as the UMass Boston Beacons earned a 7-4 win over the Salem State Vikings on Wednesday. Gottesman, allowed an earned run on five hits in the victory. UMass Boston goes to 16-10 on the season while Salem State falls to 11-14 on the year.

Brendan Greene's (Winchester, Mass.) lead-off double in the first put the Vikings on the scoreboard first as Traverse Briana (Lynn, Mass.) knocked in Greene with a single, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead.

Salem State's Dylan McCormick (South Kingstown, RI) walked the first two batters in the top of the third. With one out and a runner on third, Kyle Boudrias (Medford, Mass.) grounded out as Charlie Huegi (Sandy Hook, Conn.) came home to even the game at 1-1.

In the top of the fourth, Nico Kydes (Stamford, Conn.) hit a sacrifice fly to put the Beacons ahead 2-1. 

In the top of the seventh, Nick Herzog (Riverhead, N.Y.) hit a double to open the inning. One batter later, Boudrias drilled an RBI-double to right center as the Beacons led 4-1. 

In the eighth inning, Riley blasted a solo home run to deep left field to push the lead to 5-1. Later, Cotraro was hit by a pitch. Nico Kydes (Stamford, Conn.) reached first on an error and Cotraro advanced to third. Cotraro took advantage of a wild pitch and came home to extend UMass Boston's lead to 6-1. A fielder's choice plated another run as the Beacons took control with a 7-1 cushion.

In the bottom of the eighth, Salem State started clawing their way back into the game as Matt Marquez (Salem, Mass.) and Luke Eggers (Duxbury, Mass.) hit back-to-back singles. Zac Duval (Middleton, Mass.) tripled with a deep shot to right field and Marquez and Eggers scored making it a 7-4 game. However, UMass Boston avoided further damage to hold the lead.

Bobby Tramondozzi (Peabody, Mass) picked up his 10^th save of the season striking out two batters and allowing only one hit in the ninth inning.

Salem State's McCormick was tagged with the loss, pitching 3.1 innings, with two earned runs on four hits and a pair of strikeouts as the Vikings used six pitchers on the day.

Briana, the NCAA's leading hitter, went 4-for-5 to up his average to .577, with two doubles and an RBI.