Baseball Holds off Anderson for 3-2 Victory

Auburndale, Fla. – The Framingham State University baseball team received a strong pitching performance from senior Dillon Corliss (Winterport ME) as the Rams defeated Anderson University 3-2 in non-conference action this afternoon at Lake Myrtle Park.     

With the win, the Rams improve to 2-0 on the young season, while Anderson drops to 3-8 on the year.

Corliss went seven innings for the Rams allowing two runs, both earned, on six hits with five strikeouts and three walks.  Senior Brendan McDonough (Chelmsford, Mass.) tossed two innings of scoreless relief to earn his first save of the season.

The Rams got on the board in their first at bat of the day as they loaded the bases on three straight walks.  After Anderson recorded a pair of outs, Manny Powers (Malden, Mass.) worked the fourth walk of the inning for the Rams to force in the game's first run.

Framingham extended the lead with a single run in the top of the second on an RBI single from senior Ryan Connelly (West Roxbury, Mass.).  Connelly drove in freshman Aaron Rios (Stratford, Conn.) who had reached on a throwing error to start the inning and advanced to second on an infield hit by Kyle Lippert (Carlsbad, Calif.).

Anderson tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.  With no outs and runners on the corners, Nicholas Boardman sent an RBI double down the leftfield line and Jacob Morgan drove in a run on a ground out.

The Rams answered right back taking the lead for good in the top of the fifth.  Connelly walked, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher.  Senior RJ Gray (Lowell, Mass.)  followed with a sacrifice fly to center to put the Rams up 3-2. 

Corliss worked out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth inning to preserve the one run lead.  A Framingham error gave Anderson runners on second and third with no outs, but Corliss induced a pair of pop outs and recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

Anderson threatened in the top of the eighth against McDonough with runners on first and second and just one out, but the Rams defense came through with a huge double play to end the threat and seal the victory.

The Rams were walked nine times in the game by Anderson's pitchers.  Mark Garrett started and went three innings allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits with seven strikeouts and four walks, while Cameron Dotson took the loss going three innings and allowing one unearned run with three walks and three strikeouts.

The Rams are back in action tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. when they square off against Ramapo at the stadium at Chain of Lakes Park.