Springfield, Mass. - April 11, 2017 - The Springfield College baseball team used an eight-run fifth inning to break open a two-run game as it toppled visiting Emerson College, 19-8, on Tuesday afternoon in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Berry-Allen Field.

The victory boosts the Pride's record to 10-7, 4-2 in conference play, while the Lions dropped to 8-11, 1-7.

Springfield totaled 22 hits in the contest, with Colin King (Berlin, Conn.), Mark Joao (Wappinger Falls, N.Y.), and Brandon Russo (Lisbon, Conn.) each totaling three hits.  King led Springfield with three RBI, and Tyler Kelly (Alexandria, Va.) earned the win on the mound, tossing six innings of eight-hit ball, while allowing five runs, four earned.

After surrendering a leadoff homer to Emerson's Danny Johnson, Springfield answered with three runs in the bottom the first, highlighted by a two-run double by Kyle Allen (Westerly, R.I.).

Springfield would maintain a two-run cushion at 5-3 after four innings of play before erupting for eight runs in the fifth to take complete control of the contest.  Chad Shade (Pittsfield, Mass.) got things rolling with a leadoff double, one of eight Springfield hits in the inning, before Logan Barrett (Petersham, Mass.) blasted a two-run round tripper.  King later plated a pair with a single into left to push the Pride's advantage to 13-3.

The teams traded two runs apiece in the sixth, with a Peter Marsicano (Allentown, N.J.) sacrifice and infield single by King accounting for the hosts runs.

Springfield tacked on two more in the seventh and the eighth as its lead ballooned to 19-5.  Alex Denoyelle (Woonsocket, R.I.), Matt Fraioli (Stamford, Conn.), and Mark Serricchio (Stamford, Conn.) each scratched out run-scoring singles for the Pride.

Emerson made a late charge with three in the bottom of the ninth, but Cole Donovan (Holderness, N.H.) induced an game-ending fly ball to left to give Springfield its fourth conference victory of the season. 

Springfield will resume conference play on Thursday when it travels to face Wheaton.  First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm.