University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
La Salle
La Salle Edges Baseball, 6-5
April 25, 2009 | Baseball
April 25, 2009
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Despite overcoming a 5-0 deficit, the UMass baseball team was unable to overtake La Salle as the Explorers scored the deciding run in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Minutemen, 6-5, on Saturday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field. The loss snaps a five-game winning streak for UMass as the squad is now 15-20 on the season, 8-9 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle improves to 16-21 overall and 5-11 in conference games.
The Explorers tallied the first five runs of the contest, getting on the board with one in the bottom of the first. Tony Negrin reached on an error, moved to second on wild pitch, went to third on a sacrifice bunt and came home on a fielder's choice RBI by T.J. Chism.
La Salle added four more the next inning. Brian Meagher mashed a one-out triple and scored on a wild pitch. Then, following back-to-back two-out singles by Jeff Flax and John Malloy, Chism belted a three-run homer to right that increased the Explorers' advantage to 5-0.
The Minutemen cut into La Salle's lead with two runs in the top of the fourth. Senior Jim Macdonald tripled with two away in the frame to drive in junior Brian Baudinet who was hit by a pitch. Then junior Mike Donato sent in Macdonald with a single through the right side, bringing the score to 5-2.
UMass later used a three-run eighth to pull even with La Salle. Sophomore Kyle Multner was hit by a pitch and senior Sam Boone singled up the middle, setting up a three-run shot by Baudinet, his fourth of the season that he deposited over the fence in right to knot the score at five.
However in the bottom of the frame, the Explorers managed to regain the lead, 6-5. Marc Schoch opened up La Salle's turn at bat with a double to center, while Rick Gehman, who pinch ran for Schoch, scored on a sacrifice fly by Meagher.
Senior Mike DiCato came out of the bullpen and pitched an inning for UMass. He allowed one run on two hits with no walks and one strikeout to take the loss (3-3). Dennis Burge threw 1.1 hitless innings of relief and earned the victory (2-0) for the Explorers.
Donato was the lone Minuteman to tally multiple hits in the contest as he went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Baudinet drove in three and scored twice on the afternoon.
Chism led the way for La Salle with four RBI and a run scored. Flax hit 2-for-3 and scored once.
The teams will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow afternoon at noon on Hank DeVincent Field.
