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BROOKLINE, Mass. – Kyle Peterson's pinch-hit grand slam during the top of the eighth inning of Tuesday's Beanpot semifinal game at Friedman Diamond helped the Northeastern baseball team overcome a five-run deficit against Massachusetts and propelled the Huskies back into the tournament's title game upon NU winning the rain-filled affair, 10-8.
 
Peterson's entry into the ballgame had immediately followed the exit of UMass reliever Zach Clevenger, who had put the Minutemen's 7-5 lead in jeopardy by issuing consecutive one-out walks to Max Burt, Ryan Solomon, and Ian Fair. With darkness moving in under thick rain clouds, Peterson launched Sam Cooper's 2-2 pitch into the right field bleachers, flipping the Huskies' two-run deficit into a late, two-run lead.
 
Despite playing at Friedman Diamond, Northeastern (15-10) batted as the visiting team after poor field conditions had resulted in moving Tuesday's Beanpot semifinal game from Earl Lorden Field in Amherst to the Huskies' home park in Brookline.
 
NU plated two unearned runs during the top of the second inning before surrendering seven unanswered runs to Massachusetts (9-9) – five of which were scored during the bottom of the fourth. Facing UMass starting right-hander Anthony Videtto, the Huskies had been held to just three hits through six and two-thirds innings when John Mazza knocked a bases-empty single to center, sparking a two-out rally that yielded three runs.
 
Mason Koppens drove in Mazza from first base during Videtto's very next pitch, ripping an RBI double through the gap in left center. Charlie McConnell followed with an RBI single that cleared Ryan Lever's leaping glove at shortstop, taking second base on a balk before scoring on Cam Walsh's ensuing RBI single to left field.
 
Brian Rodriguez motored through his first three innings on the mound for the Huskies, but allowed UMass to open the fourth inning with three successive hits, including Justen Voghel's RBI single that knotted the game at 2-2. With the strike zone evading both Brandon Dufault and Kyle Murphy, the Minutemen managed to bring 10 batters to the plate en route to sporting a 6-2 lead at the conclusion of its bases-loaded rally.
 
Sam Jacobsak tossed a scoreless inning of relief and picked up his first career winning decision, while Andrew Misiaszek earned the six-out save, dialing up four strikeouts despite conceding a ninth-inning RBI double to Alec Norton.
 
With the victory, the Huskies advanced to their second Beanpot championship game in three seasons (2016). NU will play for its seventh Beanpot title and first since 2013 on Tuesday, April 10, at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Massachusetts. Game time is yet to be determined.

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Northeastern will begin a three-game home CAA series against Elon on Friday, April 6, at 2:30 p.m.