University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Connecticut
Baseball Falls To Connecticut, 8-1
March 30, 2009 | Baseball
March 30, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - The UMass baseball team was unable to overcome an early deficit on the road, falling to Connecticut, 8-1 on Monday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field. With the setback, the Minutemen are now 6-13 on the year, while the Huskies improve to 12-11.
UConn jumped out to a 4-0 lead in its first turn at bat. Nick Ahmed led off with a single to left, while walks to Matt Burnett and Mike Olt loaded the bases. Following a strikeout to Peter Fatse, George Springer, belted a two-out grand slam to right that put the Huskies on the board.
In the top of the second, UMass took one of the runs back. Junior Brian Baudinet began the inning with a walk, stole second, went to third on an error and scored on a double play ball.
The Minutemen had back-to-back one out singles in both the third and the fourth innings, four of the squad's seven hits on the day, but stranded all four runners.
Then in the bottom of the fourth, Connecticut broke the game open with three runs on three hits. Mike Nemeth plated Fatse with a single through the right side. Springer walked and came in on a sacrifice fly by Doug Elliot, while Nemeth crossed the plate on an error for the team's seventh run.
UConn added one more in the sixth on a solo homerun by Springer, his second long ball of the game. He finished 3-for-3 with five RBI and three runs scored for the Huskies. Nemeth was 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored once.
Sophomore Nick Serino started on the mound for UMass and took the loss (1-2). He allowed seven runs, six earned, on six hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Doug Jennings, UConn's starter, picked up the win (3-1). He limited the Minutemen to one run on six hits with five walks and four strikeouts.
Two UMass players finished the day with multiple hits as senior Sam Boone was 2-for-2 with two walks and his classmate Jim Macdonald hit 2-for-4.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Minutemen as the squad will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, Mar. 31, at Holy Cross. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
