University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Duquesne (Game 2)
Minutemen Split Doubleheader With Duquesne
April 08, 2006 | Baseball
April 8, 2006
Amherst, Mass. - The Massachusetts baseball team (4-14, 2-6 Atlantic 10) split Saturday's doubleheader with Duquesne (7-19, 3-5, A-10), falling in game one, 11-7 in 10 innings, while taking game two, 9-6. UMass jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the bottom half of the first inning in game two and never relinquished the lead picking up a key conference win.
In game one, UMass trailed 7-2 going into the bottom half of the ninth, but scored five runs in the inning to send the game into extra innings. The Dukes scored four runs in the top half of the tenth to grab the victory 11-7.
Junior Bill Rankin (Willington, Conn.) led the UMass offense, going 3-6 in the two contests with two doubles, three runs and four RBI. Rankin had a RBI pinch-hit single in the ninth inning of game one to extend the Minutemen's rally and then scored the game-tying run.
Junior first baseman Bryan Adamski (South Deerfield, Mass.) was 4-10 over the doubleheader with a home run, his third of the season, and three RBI.
Freshman Ryan Walczak (Taunton, Mass.) provided quality relief out of the pen in the second game, tossing 3.2 innings of one-hit ball while striking out three Dukes in route to picking up his first career save.
Senior teammate David Sullivan (Winchester, Mass.) worked 5.1 innings to earn his first victory of the season. Duquesne's Scott Chisholm was tagged with the loss, as he is still winless at 0-5.
Duquesne starter Jeff Naughton was the story of game one as he pitched eight innings scattering five hits while allowing just two runs (one earned). Naughton let his defense do the bulk of the work as he struck out just two batters while inducing 14 groundballs.
Joe Kay picked up the victory as he pitched the final two frames of game one for the Dukes improving to 2-0. Freshman Mike Dicato (Winthrop, Mass.) was saddled with loss to fall to 0-2.
The rubber game of this three-game series will take place Sunday afternoon at Noon. Fans unable to make it to the game can follow along at home via Gametracker on www.umassathletics.com. Be sure to check back after the game for a complete recap and updated stats.
