University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Honors 1954 Redmen
May 10, 2004 | Baseball
In between Saturday's doubleheader against Temple on May 8, 2004, the University of Massachusetts Department of Athletics recognized the 1954 UMass Baseball team, celebrating the 50th anniversary of UMass' first appearance in the College World Series.
Under the direction of legendary head coach Earl Lorden, the team went 15-7 that season and won the first New England Championship in school history. Beginning the year with a doubleheader sweep at Connecticut, the team wrapped up its regular season with a thrilling two-nothing (2-0) win over local rival Amherst College in front of a whopping 4,000 fans on Alumni Day on then-named University Field.
Coach Earl Lorden's team advanced to the College World Series by winning the NCAA District 1 Regional Tournament held at Pynchon Park in Springfield. Defeating host Springfield College in the semifinals by the score of 9-7, the "Whiz Kids", as the local papers called them, then blanked Boston University, 2-0, in the district finals, punching a ticket to Omaha.
The Redmen suffered a 16-5 opening-round loss to Michigan State despite holding a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Game two saw the Lorden-Nine post a 5-3 victory over Oregon behind a solid pitching performance of starter Don Swanson. The senior lefthander went the distance scattering 10 hits while striking out three in the win. Game three saw UMass bow to eventual national champion Missouri, 8-1, on June 12, 1954.
