April 14, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. -
UMass baseball (10-14, 4-8 A-10) makes its return to Fenway Park on Tuesday when the Minutemen take on Boston College (18-17, 5-13 ACC) in the Beanpot Finals at 4 p.m. UMass advanced to the finals by defeating Harvard, 3-0, last Wednesday at Fraser Field in Lynn, Mass. Mike Dicato and Nathan Monroy combined on a four hit shutout against the Crimson. The Eagles advanced to the finals by virtue of a 13-6 victory over Northeastern. The game will be broadcast on WMUA 91.1 FM with Mike Walsh and "Voice of the Minutemen" Bob Behler calling the action. Live stats will also be available on Gametracker at UMassAthletics.com.
UMass in the Beanpot
UMass joined the Beanpot in 1996 after Boston University eliminated its baseball program. The Minutemen made an immediate impact, winning the tournament in their first two years ('96 and '97) and splitting the title with Harvard in 1998 when the final game was rained out. UMass last won the Beanpot in 2000. Since then, it has made the finals once, in 2001. That year the Minutemen defeated Harvard, 9-8 in the opening round before falling to BC in the finals, 10-5. They last won a Beanpot game in 2002, taking the consolation game over Harvard, 5-3.
UMass is 10-13 all-time in Beanpot games. The Minutemen are 2-5 vs. Boston College in Beanpot games.
The last no-hitter thrown by a UMass pitcher, the program's third, was thrown in a Beanpot game at Fenway Park on April 22, 1997. Scott Barnsby no-hit Northeastern, 1-0, for what was the first no-hitter at Fenway in 32 years. David Morehead accomplished the feat for the Red Sox in a 2-0 win over Cleveland on Sept. 16, 1965. The next no-hitter at Fenway after Barnsby's was Derek Lowe's 10-0 win vs. Tampa Bay on April 22, 2002.
Series History
This will be the 51st time UMass and Boston College have met in a rivalry that dates back to 1904. The Minutemen hold a 30-20 edge in the series including a 9-4 victory over the Eagles in their lone meeting last season.
The last time they met, on April 9, 2007 at Earl Lorden Field, Jim Cassidy earned the victory, tossing six innings of three-run ball. Ryan Walczak and Aaron Smith combined to throw the last three innings out of the bullpen to ensure the win. Jim Macdonald collected two of UMass' 11 hits and drove in a game-high three runs.
Last season's win was UMass' first vs. Boston College since 2000. That last win came in the Beanpot first round, 8-5.
First Round vs. Harvard
In last Wednesday's first round game at Fraser Field in Lynn, Mike Dicato went 6 2/3 innings, shutting out Harvard. The junior right-hander out of nearby Malden Catholic High School, allowed only three hits and struck out six. Nathan Monroy pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit, to pick up his second save. The defense did its part as well, turning three double plays. Brian Baudinet, Adam Tempesta, and Andy Tuetken all collected two hits each to pace the offense.
Last Time Out
UMass traveled to Olean, N.Y. over the weekend for an Atlantic 10 three-game series with St. Bonaventure. The Bonnies took the series opener on Saturday, 7-2. The Minutemen earned a split of a doubleheader on Saturday, taking the first game, 6-1, and dropping the finale, 8-3.
Bryan Leigh got UMass' lone win of the weekend, firing a complete-game, three-hit gem, allowing only one run while striking out seven.
Ryan Franczek hit a two-run home run, his second of the year, in the win.
New Arms
Coach Mike Stone's 2008 squad has received a huge lift from a large group of new talented pitchers. Of the 13 pitchers to log innings on the mound this season, eight of them are in their first year in the maroon and white. Three of the team's top four hurlers in innings pitched are new to the team.
Eight of UMass' 10 wins have been credited to a pitcher in his first season at UMass. Sophomore Bryan Leigh, a transfer from Barry University, leads the way with a 3-2 record in six starts. He posts a 3.62 ERA and has struck out 31 batters in 37 1/3 innings while holding the opposition to a .218 average. Freshman Nick Serino leads the team with a 2.73 ERA, going 2-2 thus far and was named A-10 Rookie of the Week on April 7. Mitchell Clegg, a junior transfer from Maine, has been a weekend starter all season for the Minutemen and team's are hitting just .230 against him. He has posted a 1-3 record with a 4.34 ERA while facing most teams' aces.
Baudinet Doing It All
Brian Baudinet has been the top UMass hitter all season. The sophomore was a key reserve for the Minutemen last season, but has stepped into the starting center fielder job and leadoff spot this season with great results.
He leads UMass with a .393 average and also either leads the team or is tied for the team lead in the following: home runs (5), runs (20), RBI (19), hits (33), total bases (49), slugging (.583), on-base percentage (.495), walks (18), and stolen bases (8).
Baudinet has also played an errorless center field and logged two outfield assists.
Rakin' Rookie
Freshman left fielder Kyle Multner's bat has been a key addition to the UMass lineup in 2008. The Peabody High grad is hitting .318 thus far. His .506 slugging percentage is second on the club. He has five doubles, one triple, and three home runs, making nine of his 27 hits the extra-base variety.
Hot Hitters
UMass currently has five players all hitting over .300, Brian Baudinet (.393), Andy Tuetken (.347), Jim Macdonald (.319), Adam Tempesta (.318), and Kyle Multner (.318). They have helped raise the team batting average to .274.
While Tempesta was the team's top hitter in 2007, returners Brian Baudinet and Andy Tuetken have moved into the starting lineup and given the lineup a boost. Another lift has come from the return of third baseman Jim Macdonald, who was hitting .298 and leading the team with 19 RBI last season when his year was cut short by a hand injury just 23 games in.
In 2007, UMass finished with only one .300 hitter (Tempesta - .306) and a team batting average of .259.
Everyday Eilenberg
Pitcher Mitchell Eilenberg continues to be one of Mike Stone's favorite weapons. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native made 19 pitching appearances in 2007, the third highest total in school history, and this season has picked up right where he left off with 10 appearances thus far in 2008. Nine of those have been out of the bullpen and he has posted a 3.91 ERA in 25 1/3 innings.
The junior right-hander has now made 34 pitching appearances in his career. With a season and a half to go, he is sure to challenge Eric Chown's all-time career mark of 59.
Up Next
These same two teams will go right back at it on Wednesday, this time in Chestnut Hill. First pitch at Eddie Pallagrini Diamond is slated for 3 p.m.
This weekend the Minutemen will host A-10 foe Charlotte in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. at Earl Lorden Field. The 49ers, picked to finish first in the A-10 preseason poll, received votes in the last USA TODAY/ESPN coaches poll. 
