Xavier Takes Two From Minutemen, 10-5 and 3-2

March 30, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. - The Xavier Musketeers (8-13, 4-2 A-10) rebounded from Saturday's 7-1 UMass victory by taking both games of a doubleheader from the Minutemen (5-10, 1-5 A-10), 10-5 and 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. Xavier scored four runs each in the first and second innings of game-one to take an early 8-0 lead and used that cushion to hold off UMass. Game-two was duel that saw the Minutemen match the single runs scored by the Musketeers in the first and sixth innings, with runs of their own in the bottom half, but Xavier pushed a run across in the eighth that UMass was unable to get back. Junior Adam Tempesta (Brockton, Mass.) had the top day at the plate for the Minutemen, going 4-7 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Xavier jumped on the Minutemen early in game-one, putting up four runs on UMass starter Bryan Leigh (Somerset, Mass.) (1-2) in the first inning on three hits, three walks, and an error. It added four more in the second, all of which were unearned, on three hits, two walks, and an error. Nick Serino (Saugus, Mass.) came in and was solid in five innings of work. The freshman southpaw allowed just one unearned run on six hits and struck out three.

UMass cut into the lead, scoring two runs in the third inning. Brian Baudinet (Watertown, Conn.) and Ryan Franczek (Chicopee, Mass.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Tempesta doubled to right-center to score them both. The Minutemen scored a run in the seventh inning on RBI single by Mike Donato (East Hartford, Conn.) that followed a two-out double by Jim Macdonald (Cheshire, Conn.). Freshman Kyle Multner (Peabody, Mass.) hit his team-leading third home run of the season in the eighth inning to make it a 9-4 game. After Xavier scored a run in the top of the ninth, Bryan Garrity (Peabody, Mass.) drove in Tempesta with a single to right field that made it 10-5.

Xavier started off game-two with a run in the top of the first when Drew Schmidt led the game off with a triple to left field and on a Steve Brown single. UMass got that run right back in the bottom half of the frame when Garrity walked with the bases loaded after a two walks and single to score Baudinet.

UMass starter Jared Freni (Malden, Mass.) settled in and had retired eight-straight batters, but was ejected in the top of the fourth inning after Xavier shortstop Jordan Conley was hit by a pitch.

Mitchell Eilenberg (Brooklyn, N.Y.) (1-2) came in for Freni and didn't allow a run until the sixth inning when Zac Richard singled to lead-off the inning, advanced on a sacrifice, and scored on a Billy O'Conner double to left. Once again, the Minutemen answered that run in their half of the inning. Tempesta led off with a single to center and later scored on a Garrity sacrifice fly to right field to make it a 2-2 game.

Richard led off the eighth with a double and scored on later scored on a throwing error by Eilenberg on a bunt to give Xavier a 3-2 lead.

UMass put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth, but Conley came in to get the last two outs and thwart the scoring threat.

The Minutemen close their six-game homestand on Tuesday when they host Holy Cross in a 3 p.m. game at Earl Lorden Field.

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Team Stats

Brian Baudinet

Adam Tempesta

Mike Donato

Matt Gedman

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University of Massachusets Athletics