University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
La Salle
Minutemen Fall 8-7 To LaSalle In Series Finale
April 15, 2006 | Baseball
April 15, 2006
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - LaSalle (13-20, 6-5 Atlantic 10) scored five runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning to steal an 8-7 victory from the Massachusetts (6-17, 4-8 A-10) baseball team on Saturday afternoon. The two teams were knotted at 1-1 for the majority of the game. The Minutemen held a 7-3 lead entering the final two frames, but the Explorers were able to rally back for the win. LaSalle center fielder Dennis Burge paced the offensive attack, as he was 2-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Freshman Adam Tempesta (Brockton, Mass.) continued his hot streak for the Minutemen, as he was 3-5 with a RBI and a run scored.
With the game tied at 1-1 after six complete, the Minutemen appeared to pull away in the top half of the seventh, pushing six runs across the board. UMass ripped six of their 11 hits in the inning including a RBI triple by sophomore Ryan Franczek (Chicopee, Mass.) and a RBI double by Tempesta.
The clutch performers were sophomore Bryan Garrity (Peabody, Mass.) and senior Derrick Durepo (Ware, Mass.), who both had RBI singles in the inning. Durepo finished the day 2-4 with a RBI and a run scored, while Garrity was 1-5.
The Exploers clawed back with two runs in the bottom half of the seventh and then pulled ahead in the bottom of the eighth with five more runs. LaSalle stroked four hits in the inning and took advantage of two UMass errors as they left the eighth with an 8-7 advantage. Burge, who homered in the previous inning, produced the gamewinning RBI on a single up the middle.
Junior shortstop Lou Proietti (Hamilton, Ont.) saw his 10-game hitting streak came to a halt, as he was 0-4 on the afternoon. Junior first basemen Bryan Adamski (South Deerfield, Mass.) was able to extend his hitting streak to nine games, as he was 2-4 with two runs scored.
Explorer reliever John Reifsnyder provided 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Gerard Breslin put the first two Minutemen on in the ninth, but was able to get out of the jam to pick up his third save on the season. Adamski was saddled with the loss as he fell to 1-2.
UMass returns to action on Tuesday as it travels to Lynn, Mass. for the first round of the Beanpot Tournament. The Minutemen will square off against instate rival Boston College. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Be sure to check back to umassathletics.com for a complete recap and updated stats after the game.
