University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Siena
Saints Sneak By Minutemen, 5-4
May 04, 2006 | Baseball
May 4, 2006
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AMHERST, Mass. - UMass Baseball (10-23, 8-10 Atlantic 10) continued its extended homestand on Thursday, following two days of consecutive rainouts with a 5-4 loss to the Siena Saints (20-25, 9-9 MAAC). Leading the Minutemen was Travis Munsey, who was 2-3 on the day with three RBI. Massachusetts hosts St. Bonaventure in a three-game series this weekend, with Friday's start scheduled for 3 p.m.
Siena opened the scoring in the top of the second, with Nick Messinger bringing in Jason DiFilippo from second base. DiFilippo had previously doubled with a fly out to center to bring him within scoring distance, and Messinger's single turned into a double with the UMass error.
The Minutemen responded with two in the bottom of the same inning, both on Travis Munsey's two-RBI single out to right field. Bill Rankin and Charlie Kelly came in on the play before Munsey himself was tagged out at second to end the inning.
With Scott King on second after singling and advancing after a wild pitch in the third, Jacob Willis brought him in on a double, regaining the one-run lead for Siena. The Saints added on to that with Gabe Perez' home run in the top of the seventh. Later in the inning, with runners on second and third, King scored on Chris Klepps' single to left to make it a 5-2 game before Ryan Walczak came into the game for the Minutemen. Walczak retired the final batter to end the offensive outburst.
UMass climbed back in it late in the seventh with a sacrifice bunt by Munsey, bringing in Kelly for the second this afternoon. Marc Dallaire, pinch running for Frank McPherson, made it a 5-4 game with Lou Proietti's RBI single to third to close the inning.
The Minutemen were unable to muster any more offense, and ultimately fell 5-4.
Mike Cote had the start, pitching 4.1 innings before being replaced by Aaron Smith in relief. Smith took the loss, falling to 2-2 on the season.
UMass hosts St. Bonaventure in a three-game A-10 series, starting Friday at 3 p.m. You can log onto umassathletics.com to listen live and to follow the game via Gametracker.
