Massasoit Baseball Falls At Dean On Ninth Inning Walk Off

FRANKLIN, Mass. ---- Dean College used a Derek Bauer walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to sink the Massasoit Community College baseball team, 6-5, on Wednesday afternoon.

Massasoit (4-7) built up a 5-2 lead entering the bottom of the eighth, but the home Bulldogs (8-9) rallied to score four runs over the last two frames to escape with the win. In the ninth, the Warriors retired the first batter before four consecutive Dean hits capped by Bauer's game-winner.

"We played tough for seven innings, but you have to play tough for all nine. We didn't do that today," head coach Tom Frizzell said. "The hardest three outs to get are the last three. We can't go through the motions in close games because games like today will happen."

The Warriors' lineup finished with 16 hits, 12 of which coming from the first five hitters. However, Massasoit stranded a total of 10 base runners, proving to be costly in the team's second one-run loss in as many games.

Travis Ritchie (Taunton) paced the Warriors, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored ending the day a home run shy of the cycle. Luke Nagle (Pembroke) added three hits and two RBI, while Joe Walsh (Taunton) and Scott O'Brien (East Bridgewater) also added three hits in the loss.

The late Dean rally spoiled a strong outing from lefty starter David Tarr (Easton). The southpaw scattered five hits in five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) with one walk and five punch outs.

David Murphy (0-1) was saddled with the loss out of the Massasoit bullpen.

Dean's Billy Young (1-1) earned the victory, giving up one run over the final three frames.

Massasoit returns to the diamond on Saturday with a doubleheader at home against MassBay Community College. Game one is slated for Noon.