SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Sophomore Jason Cusumano (Port Chester, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac HS), in just his fourth career at bat, delivered a two-run pinch-hit single in the top of the 11th inning to break a 1-1 tie and lift Bentley to a 3-1 win over Bryant University in Northeast-10 Conference baseball Monday afternoon at Bulldog Field.
The winning rally began when freshman DH James Roche (Arlington, Mass./Arlington HS) reached on a one-out walk. After a walk to sophomore shortstop Joe Dorr (Wayland, Mass./Wayland HS) and a ground-out left a pair of runners in scoring position, Cusumano delivered with his two-out single to right center, scoring both Roche and sophomore catcher Mike DeCoste (Chelmsford, Mass./ Chelmsford HS).
Bentley's first run was also unearned, coming in the top of the ninth when the Bulldogs were one out away from a 1-0 win. Singles by freshman first baseman Garrett Stenhouse (Warwick, R.I./Pilgrim HS) and Roche opened the inning, and a walk to Dorr loaded the bases.
Bryant closer Eric Polvani (Wallingford, Conn.), seeking his third save against the Falcons in as many days, came close to escaping trouble, with a strikeout and a line drive to shortstop. However, a throwing error on the part of shortstop Pat McKenna (Orange, Conn.), trying to catch Stenhouse off the base at third, allowed Stenhouse to race open with the equalizer.
Bryant had taken a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, an RBI single by Nick Campbell (Raynham, Mass.) scoring Jason Alexander (Simsbury, Conn.), who had opened the inning with a double to center.
That would be the only run allowed by a quartet of Bentley pitchers. Junior Brett Fistes (South Deerfield, Mass./Greenfield HS) gave up one hit over the first three innings, sophomore Matt Boudrow (Dedham, Mass./Dedham HS) yielded two hits and the one run over the next three, and junior Dean Sandonato (Quincy, Mass./Boston College HS) allowed two in his two innings of work.
Junior Tim Cadran (Greenfield, Mass./Greenfield HS) picked up his third win of the season after blanking the Bulldogs (12-10, 2-1 NE-10) over the final three. He gave up three hits and struck out three.
DeCoste had two of Bentley's six hits and Campbell was three-for-four for Bryant.
Bentley will return home to host UMass-Lowell Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
