Feb. 8, 2013

HERMOSILLO, Mexico - Former UMass baseball standout, Springfield, Mass., native Doug Clark hit an 18th inning solo home run last night to lift Mexico's Yaquis de Obregon to the Caribbean Series title. Clark, who is in his third season in the Mexican League and 15th year of minor league baseball overall, played for the Minutemen from 1996-98 and was a two-time All-American outfielder at UMass.

Clark broke up a 3-3 deadlock with his solo shot in the top of the 18th to put Mexico in front in a game that lasted a Caribbean Series-record seven hours, 28 minutes. Prior to the contest, he was honored as one of the Caribbean Series All-Stars.

In three seasons with the Minutemen, the two-year captain hit .366 with 30 doubles, six triples, 21 home runs, 137 RBI and 128 runs scored. In addition to earning All-America recognition in 1997 and 1998, he collected an All-Northeast Region nod, was a two-time All-New England honoree, and was a three-time All-Atlantic 10 selection.

Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1998, Clark's name still blankets UMass' all time top-10 lists, including ranking third in career RBI and fourth in career batting average.