Bristol Reporter

Behind a walk-off single in the bottom of ninth by senior shortstop DJ Perron, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team rallied for a 12-11 win over Penn State Altoona on Tuesday. The win marks the fourth of the season for the Corsairs, including the second come-from-behind win during play at the RussMatt Invitational. UMD improves to 4-0 on the season, while the Lions drop to 3-4.

After falling behind 11-5 to Altoona after six innings of play, the Corsairs began to surge back into the ballgame. Senior pitcher Adam Horowitz came on in the top of the seventh, allowing just one hit to PSU freshman Jonathan Rauch in the frame, who he later picked off at first base to end the inning. 
 
In the bottom half of the inning, the Corsairs began their run as sophomore second baseman Devyn Vezina down the left field line. Advancing to second on a passed ball, Vezina found himself on third following a sacrifice fly from senior first baseman Andrew Bryant. The next at-bat saw Perron single to left, bringing Vezina home as a hit batsman saw the Corsairs with runners on first and second.
 
A single from junior catcher T.J. Keefe brought in another and the Corsairs saw another batter cross the plate as right fielder Chase Stafford singled up the middle to make it an 11-8 score. 
 
The UMD bullpen was outstanding from that point on, shutting down the Lions once again in the top of the eighth. Freshman Geordan Jackson Murphy took the mound, retiring the first two batters. PSU's Grayson McClain managed a hit against him, but was gunned down in an attempt to steal second by Keefe to end the inning and set up the comeback for the Corsairs in the bottom of the eighth.  
 
With one out on the board and a runner on first, Perron came to the plate and pulled the Corsairs to within one with one swing of the bat, knocking in a two-run home run. Cutting the deficit to one (11-10), UMD then saw junior designated hitter Jared Neikam follow with a single to left, advancing to second and later finding home on a Keefe single up the middle.
 
Locked in an 11-all tie, Corsairs' sophomore Andrew Steinhubel took the mound, quickly in trouble as the first batter reached on an error for the Lions. After a sac bunt advanced the runner, Steinhubel intentionally walked Altoona's Jake Hillard to create the double-play opportunity. UMD went on to execute the 5-4-3 double play and retire the side to set up the dramatic ninth inning finish. 
 
The Corsairs once again found themselves with a runner on and an out on the board. Vezina came to the plate, singling to center to bring up Perron, who answered with a single of his own down the line to bring home sophomore left fielder Scott Cromack for the game-winning run. 

Perron highlighted the day for the Corsairs, going 6-for-6, including his home run and walk-off single, with seven runs batted in to go along with three runs scored. Vezina went 3-for-6 with two runs scored, while Bryant was 2-for-4 on the day with three runs scored. 
 
On the mound, the Corsairs saw several pitchers contribute to the victory as Steinhubel earned the win, pitching the ninth inning and surrendering just one walk. Jackson Murphy allowed just one hit and struck out one during his inning of work in the eighth, while sophomore Josh Malcolm and Horowitz each pitched an inning, both giving up just one hit with a strikeout as well. 

For the Lions, McClain was 3-for-5 with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored. Senior catcher Richard Carey went 3-for-4 with two walks and two runs scored, while Garrett Alauzen went 1-for-4 with three RBI's, and Rouch went a perfect 3-for-3 and walked twice. Kitko shouldered the loss for PSU, allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work. 

UMD is back on the diamond on Thursday for a double-header against Concordia College (MN) in Davenport, Fla., at NorthEast Regional Park. Game times are set for 3:30 and 6:00 PM. 

Original source can be found here.