University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutemen To Take On Huskies...And Huskies
May 08, 2007 | Baseball
May 8, 2007
AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts (18-20, 10-11 A-10) takes the field this week with a pair of regional non-conference rivals. On Tuesday, the Minutemen host the Connecticut Huskies (22-23, 6-12 Big East) at Earl Lorden Field. Then on Wednesday, they head east on the pike to take on the Northeastern Huskies (21-18, 10-13 Colonial) at Friedman Diamond in Brookline. A 3 p.m. start is scheduled for both games. UMass has played both teams already this year, winning at UConn 6-4 on April 10 and losing 17-6 at Northeastern on April 19. The two teams played each other on Monday in an all-Huskies battle, with UConn squeaking out an 8-7 win.
UMass, currently in seventh place in the A-10, enters this week coming off a 1-2 weekend against Richmond, the conference's second place club. Despite the series loss, the Minutemen have won six of their last eight games and nine of their last 13. Sophomore second baseman Adam Tempesta continues to be the team's top hitter, sporting a .299 (44-147) average and has scored 22 runs. Junior third baseman Ryan Franczek (Chicopee, Mass.) has been swinging the hot bat, hitting .375 (9-24) in the last eight games, with seven runs and six RBI.
Including Monday's win over Northeastern, UConn comes into the game having won four of their last seven. In the last meeting between the two teams, Tempesta and Bryan Garrity (Peabody, Mass.) led the way with two hits apiece.
UConn is led at the plate by shortstop Dennis Donovan. The senior is batting .330 (61-185) and also leads the team in RBI with 29. Leadoff man Peter Fatse is the teams leading run scorer with 31. The freshman leftfielder is batting .294 (42-143). The ace of the pitching staff is senior lefty Brendan McGinn. He has a record of 7-1 with a 2.98 ERA. The Huskies' top reliever is junior lefthander Matt Karl. He is 0-2 with seven saves and a 3.98 ERA.
Northeastern comes into Wednesday's game having lost five straight ballgames and eight of their last nine. When UMass and Northeastern met in April it was the opening round game of the Beanpot, and due to field conditions in Lynn, Mass. the game was moved to NU's artificial surface. At the time the Huskies were in the midst of a season-best nine game winning streak. Tempesta and Bill Rankin (Willington, Conn.) had two hits each in that game. Garrity and Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa.) each homered in the game for the Minutemen.
They are led by leftfielder Mike Tamsin. The sophomore is hitting at a .367 (54-147) clip with 35 RBI and 35 runs. Senior catcher Dan Milano leads the club with 11 home runs and 39 runs batted in. He is batting .338 (50-148), and had a homer and four RBI in teams' earlier meeting. NU's top starter is junior Chris Dabrowiecki. The right-hander is 5-3 on the year with a 3.94 ERA. Freshman southpaw Ryan Quigly is the top man out of the `pen with five saves and a 2.45 ERA.
Tuesday's game will be broadcast on WMUA 91.1 FM with streaming audio on UMassathletics.com. Gametracker for the UConn game will be available on UMassathletics.com as well.
