Mass Maritime Defeats Salem State 12-4

SALEM, Mass. -- Mass Maritime exploded for nine runs over the final two innings, highlighted by a three-run home run in the eighth inning by Frank Aten to break open a close game and win 12-4 over Salem State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest at The Central Campus Baseball Field on Friday. The Buccaneers improve to 18-15 and even their conference record at 8-8. The Vikings lose their sixth straight and are 4-12 in the MASCAC.

Starter Justin Brown picked up the win for Mass Maritime, going 7.0 innings and allowing a pair of runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Aten finished 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI. Brett Velzis went 3-for-5 with a double, run and two RBI. Michael Estrada had two hits in five trips, including one of three triples by the Buccaneers in the game.

Jake Boucher went 2-for-4 for Salem State, which included his second home run of the season, and had three RBI and two runs scored. Owen Duggan went 2-for-2 with a walk and run scored. Starter Bobby Jellison lasted five innings, giving up three runs on six hits without allowing a walk and had a strikeout as the Vikings used five pitchers in the game.

Velzis gave Mass Maritime a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single to right. Perito's triple and a sacrifice fly by Zach Sylvia extend the lead to 3-0 in the fifth. Brown ran into trouble in the sixth as Boucher drew Salem State to within a run at 3-2 with a two-run home run to left.

Aidan Henderson increased the lead to two runs in the eighth with a single up the middle before Aten drilled a three-run home run that gave the Buccaneers a comfortable 7-2 margin. Brahaim Ortega got on back for Salem State in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI double, but Maritime countered with a five-run ninth on just two hits, as three walks, two hit by pitches and an error increased the lead to 12-4. 

Nolan Kennedy and Brenden Baiardi each allowed one earned run in an inning of relief work for the Buccaneers. Salem State's bullpen allowed nine runs - six earned on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts.