United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Baseball - Bears Rally to Tie MIT; Game Suspended after 10 Innings

NEW LONDON, CONN.--(4/22/10)--Fifth-seeded Coast Guard rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie sixth-seeded MIT, following a one hour and ten minute rain and lightning delay, to tie the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament elimination game at 6-6 and later in the inning had two runners tagged out at third base on the same play and this wild game was suspended after ten innings due to darkness with the score tied 6-6.

The game will be completed tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Coast Guard Academy.

MIT led 5-1 after six innings. The Engineers scored twice in the second on an RBI double by junior Dan Hyatt and an RBI groundout by sophomore A.J. Hansborough for a 2-0 lead.

Coast Guard got on the board in the third on an RBI single by freshman Nolan Gallagher, which scored classmate Riley Beecher, who led off the inning with a single.

The Engineers scored an unearned run in the fifth as sophomore Bryan Macomber singles, moved to second and third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on a throwing error for a 3-1 lead.

MIT extended its lead to 5-1 in the sixth on a bases loaded walk to pinch hitter sophomore Zach Carr before Macomber’s sacrifice fly.

Coast Guard scored a pair of runs in the seventh as freshman Mike Massaro singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an error before freshman Tyler Babkiewich drove in a run on fielder’s choice to cut the deficit to 5-3.

There was a rain and lightning delay with one out in the top of the eighth and when play resumed, the Engineers scored an unearned run as Hansborough doubled and scored on a throwing error on a ball hit back to the mound.

In the bottom of the eighth, Massaro’s bases loaded two-run double cut the deficit to 6-5 then came a wild sequence. With one out, Beecher belted a deep double to center which scored freshman Eric Gerken with the tying run, but Massaro ran halfway home and decided to go back to third and dove back to the bag, but Beecher was already on the bag, both runners occupied the base. Beecher was called out, because by rule, the bag belonged to Massaro, who was face down when he heard the out call, he then lifted his hand off the base thinking he was out and was tagged out by the catcher Hansborough ending the Bears rally.

Freshman Derek Petty started for the Bears and allowed five runs, four earned in five and 1/3 inning while classmate Tyler Vieira pitched four and 2/3 innings of relief and allowed four hits and an unearned run and is still in the game.

Sophomore Torre Swanson worked the first six and 1/3 innings for MIT and allowed five hits and three runs, two earned. Junior Cameron Brown got the final two outs of the seventh for MIT.

The Bears scored the three eighth inning runs off of junior Ryne Barry, who worked just the eighth. Freshman Aric Dama pitched two hitless innings in the ninth and tenth and is still in the game for MIT.