University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Connecticut
Homeruns Carry Connecticut Past UMass Baseball, 11-9
April 08, 2009 | Baseball
April 8, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass baseball team used a pair of homeruns to help erase a three-run deficit, but it was two long balls by UConn in the top of the ninth that made the difference as the Minutemen fell to the Huskies, 11-9, at Earl Lorden Field on Wednesday afternoon. With the loss, UMass is now 8-17 on the season, while Connecticut moves to 15-14.
The Minutemen began the game with a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. Senior Adam Tempesta legged out a single on a ball sent deep into the hole at shortstop for the squad's first hit of the game, his 200th of his career, becoming just the third player in program history to reach the plateau. Junior Brian Baudinet followed up with a single and junior Mike Donato put UMass on the board, dropping a two-out single into centerfield that drove in Tempesta and Baudinet.
UConn took one of the runs back in the top of the second as Mike Nemeth drew a leadoff walk and crossed the plate on a double to the right field fence by Pierre LePage. The Huskies then tied the score with a solo homerun in the top of the fourth by Peter Fatse.
Two more long balls by UConn in the sixth gave the Huskies a 4-2 advantage. George Springer and Nemeth each hit one over the fence in right. However, UMass countered by scoring twice in the bottom of the frame to even things up at 4-4. Tempesta reached on an error and scored on an RBI groundout by senior Jim Macdonald, while Baudinet followed Tempesta with a single and crossed the plate on an RBI single from Donato.
Then in the top of the seventh, doubles by Springer and Fatse resulted in the Huskies taking a 7-4 lead. Springer plated Harold Brantley, who opened the inning with a single to right, and Fatse's two-bagger sent home Matt Burnett and Springer.
The Minutemen answered back once again, this time with a five-run bottom half, to go on top, 9-7. Sophomore Peter Copa walked to begin the frame, while freshman Tom Conley followed up with a double to right center that chased UConn starter Matt McDonald from the game. Senior Sam Boone then stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and ripped a two-run double into deep center, bringing UMass within a run at 7-6. After two outs were recorded, Baudinet sent a 3-1 pitch over the bushes in left to put the Minutemen in front, 8-7. The next batter, Macdonald, made it 9-7 with a solo shot to right, marking his second straight game with a homerun.
The Huskies then rallied for four runs with one out in the top of the ninth. Burnett singled to center and Springer hit his second homerun of the game to knot the score at nine. Fatse reached on an error and Nemeth made UMass pay for the miscue by driving his second homer of the game, a two-run shot, over the right field fence for what would prove to be the winning runs.
Senior Mitchell Eilenberg suffered the loss for UMass (1-3) as he let up four runs, three earned, on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts in 2.0 innings on the mound. Scott Oberg pitched a hitless eighth, walked one and struck out one to earn the victory (1-0) for UConn, while David Erickson did not allow a hit or a run in the ninth to pick up the save (5).
Baudinet finished the contest 3-for-5 to pace the offense for the Minutemen and totaled three runs scored and two RBI. Donato went 2-for-5 with three RBI, while Macdonald and Boone each drove in two runs.
For the Huskies, who totaled five homeruns on the day, Springer led the squad with a 3-for-5 performance that included two homers and a double, recorded four RBI and scored three runs. Fatse was 2-for-5 with a homerun and a double, scored twice and plated three, while Nemeth had two homers and a double (3-for-4), scored three and drove in two.
UMass will be off tomorrow before heading to St. Louis, Mo., for a three-game Atlantic 10 series at Saint Louis, with the first contest slated for 7 p.m. on Friday evening.
