University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Northeastern
UMass Loses To Northeastern In A Slugfest, 17-12
May 09, 2007 | Baseball
May 9, 2007
BOSTON - The Northeastern Huskies (22-19) outlasted the UMass Minutemen (18-22), 17-12, in a slugfest in which the two teams combined for 29 runs, 27 hits and nine combined pitchers. With the win, UMass has now lost to Northeastern twice this season. For the Minutemen, Bill Rankin (Willington, Conn.) led the way with three hits, three runs and four RBI. The senior centerfielder was only a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Mike Donato (East Hartford, Conn.) also recorded three hits and drove in three for the best game of his young collegiate career. Mike Dicato (Winthrop, Mass.) started the game and dropped to 0-7.
Northeastern jumped out of the gates with nine runs on nine hits in the first four innings, all charged to DiCato who exited the ballgame with two outs in the fourth.
UMass' sluggish start proved to be the difference in the game, as they needed to play from behind the entire game. The Minutemen were retired in order in the first two frames and found themselves down five runs before a batter even reached base. Overall, the UM Nine were held hitless in four innings and had one hit in two others.
The Maroon and White finally scored when Rankin came home on a Lou Proietti (Hamilton, Ont.) groundout to second base.
Depleted from playing their fifth game in six days, Minutemen pitching only held the Huskies scoreless in one inning.
Down 16-5 in the top of the eighth, UMass launched a six-run attack but it proved too little, too late. With two runners on, Rankin laced a triple to center field and Mike Donato followed with an RBI single. Two batters later, Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa.), in as a pinch hitter for Proietti, singled down the left field line to drive in Donato and Brian Baudinet (Watertown, Conn.). UMass would send one more runner across the plate when Frank McPherson (Somerville, Mass.) was hit by a pitch.
In the ninth, UMass made one last attempt to tie the game as Donato led off with a home run to left field. Unfortunately, the next three Minutemen were retired in order to end the game.
UMass' 12 runs tied for the second highest total this season. The Minutemen matched the feat in the first game at Dayton and bested it in the 13-10 win at Temple. The 17 runs allowed were tied for the most of the season with the other instance coming at Northeastern in the first round of the Beanpot Tournament.
UMass will take the field next at 3 p.m. Friday at Earl Lorden Field for a crucial A-10 series againt Saint Louis. For those who cannot make the game, WMUA 91.1 will br broadcast the game live on radio and via UMassAthletics.com
