UMass Boston has officially started the year hot, smashing through six straight wins to begin the year. After another Beacons win, 5-3 at Mitchell college March 6, it’s been bombs away for the men’s baseball team, bombarding their six opponents with 67 runs while allowing just 26.
They’ve faced no Little East Conference opponents yet, but already received some accolades; in the first batch of LEC weekly awards UMass Boston’s Ross Dexter, a senior starting pitcher, was named pitcher of the week and freshman reliever Jonny Pagano was selected for rookie of the week.
But regardless of the out-of-conference play, the Beacons have played some quality programs, like Lasell University, who came into UMass Boston undefeated after sweeping Suffolk University. The Beacons hung 10 runs on them — they’ve cracked double digits in four of their six games this year.
The Beacons boast 26/30 stolen bags, 99 total bases, 14 doubles, four tiples, and a .451 on base percentage as a team. This team gets on base almost 50% of the time, and they do it in every way. Walks, base hits, or bombs — it hasn’t mattered to this team.
In the middle of it is the right fielder Justin Gouveia, a junior from Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Gouveia shot straight to the top of the LEC leaderboard after his three hit, three RBI game against New England College on opening night, and hasn’t left since. He leads the conference in hits with 12, runs with 9 and is tied for total bases with 14.
It’s not just Gouveia: the Beacons have got other guys mashing in the early months of the season. With seven hitting above .300, and three above .400, their lineup is littered with hot bats who can put the ball in play — and in play, it’s gone. Just a single home-run hit by UMass Boston so far, yet a combined 56 RBIs.
Sophomore Brandon Gaer has caught eyes after a fair freshman season. The catcher is hitting .421 with seven RBIs through 19 at bats so far.
Another notable to watch is Bostyn Burris, the graduate student from Texas. Now on his fourth full season as a Beacon, Burris hits a career .318. He’s already hit 100 hits for his career, and could now be primed for an explosive final season — he finished his senior year with a career high 30 RBIs.
But who’s really in the spotlight is the LEC pitcher of the week, Dexter. He has started two games and averages as many runs allowed per game. A 2.00 ERA for the career 3.76 thrower, he’s struck out 12 compared to just five hits given up.
Following UMass Boston’s win at Mitchell, they’ll get a small break of play. The Beacons are off until Thursday, March 13 when they kick off a tournament at Myrtle Beach against Wheaton College.
When they return on March 22, the Beacons will begin their LEC schedule against VTSU Castleton.
