University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
South Florida
UMass Baseball Falls To USF 17-2 In Season Opener
March 11, 2006 | Baseball
March 10, 2006
TAMPA, Fla. -
The Minutemen opened the 2006 season with a loss as the Bulls pounded out 17 runs on 17 hits to defeat the Minutemen 17-2. Addison Maruszak and Ty Taborelli paced the Bulls offense, each going 3-4 with three RBI. UMass junior outfielder Bill Rankin (Willington, Conn.) was 1-3 with a RBI triple and junior Travis Munsey (Duram, N.H.) reached base twice as he singled and was hit by a pitch.
The Bulls jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the third inning as UMass starter Chris Lloyd (North Adams, Mass.) issued a walk to Maruszak with the bases loaded to bring in Brendin Daniel. Kris Howell followed with a single, scoring Gus Fernandez from third. USF would add another run in the fifth as Joey Angelberger singled in Maruszak from second to bring the score to 3-0. Lloyd tossed 4 1/3 innings for the Minutemen, allowing three runs on three hits while walking six and striking out three, but picked up the loss to fall to 0-1.
The Minutemen bullpen was unable to contain the USF offense as the relief corps allowed 14 runs on 14 hits and five walks. The Bulls tacked on two runs in the sixth then exploded for 10 runs in the seventh inning to extend their lead to 15-0.
USF starter Casey Hudspeth kept the Minutemen offense at bay as he held the Minutemen scoreless in his seven innings of work, surrendering just three hits while striking out eight. After a leadoff single to senior Derrick Durepo (Ware, Mass.) to start the game, Hudspeth allowed just one base runner over the next five innings before hitting Munsey with a pitch to start the sixth. Hudspeth picked up the victory to improve to 2-2 on the season.
The Minutemen got on the board with two runs in the top half of the eighth inning as freshman Joe Cotone (Yorktown, N.Y.) singled and scored later on a Rankin triple to right-center field. Sophomore Ryan Franczek (Chicopee, Mass.) drove in Rankin on a ground out to second to make it 15-2.
The Bulls would add two more insurance runs in the bottom half of the eighth on an RBI ground out from Brett Boggs and a RBI sacrifice fly Taborelli for the final of 17-2.
UMass returns to action Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in game two of the three game series against USF. Junior Rory McDonald (East Longmeadow, Mass.) will get the nod for the Minutemen and the Bulls will counter with sophomore right-hander Daniel Thomas. Thomas enters tomorrow's game with a 1-2 record with a 3.18 ERA in 22 innings of work.
