University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
La Salle
Minutemen Fall To LaSalle 8-4 In A-10 Contest
April 13, 2006 | Baseball
April 13, 2006
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Massachusetts baseball team (5-16, 3-7 Atlantic 10) fell 8-4 to LaSalle (12-19, 5-4 A-10) in game one of a three game series on Thursday. The Explorers scored early taking a 2-0 lead after five complete. The Minutemen countered with a run in the top half of the sixth, but LaSalle scored four times in the bottom half of the of the same inning to take a commanding 6-1 lead en route to the win. Junior shortstop Lou Proietti (Hamilton, Ont.) led the UMass offense as he went 2-4 with a run scored and a RBI. Proietti has now hit safely in nine straight games.
After falling behind 2-0, the Minutemen got back into the game in the top of the sixth as they cut the deficit to one on a RBI ground out by sophomore Ryan Franczek (Chicopee, Mass.). The third baseman was 1-5 on the day with a RBI and a run scored.
Up until the sixth, LaSalle starter Ryan Burge had held the UMass offense in check allowing no runs and just two hits through the first five frames. Burge departed after the seventh allowing just the lone run on three hits while striking out five Minutemen as he improved to 1-3.
The Explorers struck back in the bottom half of the sixth as they scored four runs highlighted by a RBI single by shortstop Mike Essery and a RBI triple by George Hudock. Minuteman starter Chris Lloyd (North Adams, Mass.) surrendered all four runs in the inning before being relieved by freshman Ryan Walczak (Taunton, Mass.) with one away. Lloyd tossed 5.1 innings, allowing six runs on five hits while striking out seven batters, but ultimately took the loss falling to 0-2.
The Minutemen mounted a comeback in the top half of the eighth, scoring three runs on RBI singles by Proietti and freshman second baseman Adam Tempesta (Brockton, Mass.) and a RBI double by Bryan Adamski (South Deerfield, Mass.). The rally cut the Explorer lead to 7-4, but LaSalle added one more in the bottom half of the inning and UMass was unable to close the gap.
Temepsta was 2-4 with a run scored and a RBI in the contest while Adamski was 1-4 with the lone RBI. With the double, Adamski extends his hitting streak to seven straight games.
UMass returns to action Friday at 3 p.m. for game two of the three game series. The Minutemen are expected to send junior right-hander Rory McDonald (East Longmeadow, Mass.) to the hill against the Explorers. Be sure to check back to www.umassathletics.com for a complete recap and updated stats after the game.
