BOSTON, Mass. – Nationally-ranked University of Massachusetts Boston collected 22 hits and scored 20 runs Wednesday afternoon and defeated Lasell College, 20-1, in the college baseball season opener for both schools at Monan Park.

The Beacons, ranked third in the D3baseball.com national poll, got three hits, including a home run, and four RBI from Dave Murphy, while Chris Fowler added three hits and two RBI. Wanderson Pinales also homered for the Beacons, and Anthony Cecere drove in three.

Junior leadoff hitter David Marsell (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) collected two hits to lead the Lasers, and classmate Rob Cutone (Tewksbury, Mass.) had a triple and two walks in four trips to the plate.

Lasell scored its only run in the fifth inning when junior Brett Sherron (Howard Beach, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch, went to second on a single by Marsell, and scored on a single down the left field line by junior Zach Herring (Fresno, Calif.)

Five different pitchers saw action for the Lasers. Sophomore Zach Handzel (Palmer, Mass.) was the most effective, allowing just two runs on three hits and two walks in four innings of relief work, striking out two.

The Lasers will be back in action during the Spring Break trip, beginning with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 11, at Saint Mary's College (Md.), beginning at noon.

-- 30 --