CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A two-out, two-run home run in the eighth inning by sophomore Anthony Searles (Shelton, Conn.) provided the winning runs for UMass Boston in a 6-5 decision over MIT in non-conference baseball action. The win moved UMass Boston to 15-12 for the season while MIT fell to 18-10.

Sophomore David Hesslink (San Diego, Calif.), who came on to pitch to start the eighth for MIT, recorded the first two outs of the inning but gave up a walk and then the home run to Searles that proved to be the game winner. The Engineers put a runner on in each of the final two innings, but could not push the tying run across.

UMass Boson drew first blood in the contest, scoring a run in the third after a two-out error gave the Beacons new life. Freshman Sal Frosceno (Derby, Conn.) reached on that error, stole second and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Freshman Josh Lopez (New Haven, Conn.) then singled to make it 1-0.

The Beacons added three more in the fourth, starting the inning with a single and an RBI double by senior Todd Ezold (Westfield, Mass.). He eventually scored on a wild pitch before a walk and a single put runners on the corners for junior Daniel Bonito (Swampscott, Mass.) who delivered a run with a sacrifice bunt. 

MIT answered in its half of the fourth when freshman Austin Filiere (Chandler, Ariz.) led off with a double and then scored on a two-out throwing error. Senior Reid Bishop (Cypress, Texas) then pushed across another run with an RBI double. The Engineers then took the lead with three more in the sixth, starting the inning with a double from senior Parker Tew (Chapel Hill, N.C.). Senior Hayden Cornwell (Newport Beach, Calif.) followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners and then stole second before a ground out by junior Kendall Helbert (St. Louis, Mo.) brought in Tew. A pair of wild pitches then plated two more runs for MIT, giving the Engineers a 5-4 advantage. 

UMass Boston pitching held MIT down from there to setup the late inning heroics. Senior Harlon Zeerip (Bridgewater, Conn.) picked up the win, tossing a pair of scoreless innings, with senior Josh Cummiskey (Lowell, Mass.) throwing the ninth and allowing a hit but no runs to pick up the save. MIT received a combined three scoreless innings out of the bullpen from sophomore Jason Morrison (Frisco, Texas) and junior Michael Wymer (Flower Mound, Texas).

Filiere and Cornwell each had a pair of hits to lead MIT, while Ezold had two hits in three trips with an RBI and a run to lead UMass Boston. 

Seeded No. 1 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament that starts this weekend, MIT will host a doubleheader on Saturday starting at Noon that will begin a best of three semifinal series. The Engineers will play the winner of a game between Babson and Coast Guard that will be played tomorrow. UMass Boston will play again on Saturday as well, hosting Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.