University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
VCU
Serino Pitches Baseball To 4-3 Victory Over VCU
March 18, 2009 | Baseball
March 18, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. - Sophomore Nick Serino fanned 11 batters over six scoreless innings, helping the UMass baseball team to a 4-3 victory over Virginia Commonwealth at The Diamond on Wednesday evening. The win moves the Minutemen to 4-7 on the season, while the Rams, who had won seven of their past nine games entering tonight's contest, fall to 9-5 on the year.
With one down in the top of the second, senior Jim Macdonald tallied UMass' first hit of the night, a single through the left side of the infield. Then with two away, an RBI single to center by sophomore Kyle Multner plated Macdonald to give the Minutemen a 1-0 advantage. Senior Sam Boone, followed up with a bunt base hit, driving in freshman Tom Conley, who walked earlier in the inning, for the team's second run.
VCU loaded the bases in both the third and fourth innings and each time, Serino pitched his way out of the jam. Two of the three hits he surrendered on the day came in the fourth, an infield base knock by Taylor Perkins and a single to center by Justin Wright.
In the top of the sixth, The Minutemen added what would prove to be two valuable insurance runs. The first came on a solo shot to left by Macdonald, while a bases loaded walk to junior Austin Weymouth forced in Conley for the team's fourth final run of the contest.
The Rams threatened a comeback, putting up thee in the bottom of the eighth to close their deficit to one. Wright started things off with a one-out double and scored when the next batter, Michael Cheatham, singled up the middle. Cheatham later came in on an error and a double by Richard Gonzalez brought home Matt Leskiw for VCU's third run.
That would be all, however, as junior Mike Gedman entered and struck out Paul Nice to end the inning. Gedman then retired the side in order in the ninth, logging two more strikeouts to pick up his second save of the season. In his first start of the year, Serino earned the victory (1-1), scattering three hits and walking five. His 11 strikeouts were the most by a Minuteman since Apr. 16, 2005 when Matt Torra fanned 16 batters in 10.2 innings against Saint Joseph's.
Josh Alford started and took the loss (0-2) for the Rams, giving up two runs on four hits with one walk over four innings on the mound.
Macdonald was 2-for-4 at the plate with a homerun to help lead the UMass offense, driving in one and scoring twice in the contest. Multner finished the night 2-for-3 with an RBI, while senior Adam Tempesta went 2-for-4.
Wright was the lone VCU player to record more than one hit on the evening. He went 3-for-4 with a double and run scored.
UMass will be off tomorrow before opening conference play on Friday, Mar. 20, with its first of three against Richmond. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
