University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
10-3 UMass Win Caps Series
May 10, 2009 | Baseball
May 10, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass baseball team powered its way two a 10-3 victory over Rhode Island on Sunday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field, aided by the long ball once again as senior Jim Macdonald sophomore and Kyle Multner belted the team's fifth and sixth home runs of the weekend. With the win, the Minutemen become the first Atlantic 10 squad to take a series from the Rams (33-17-1, 18-5) this season and improve to 21-24 overall, 13-11 in conference play.
Macdonald set the tone for UMass early on as junior Brian Baudinet drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the first and Macdonald cracked a two-run shot over the fence in left to give the Minutemen a 2-0 lead.
The following inning, Rhode Island took one of the runs back as Tom Coulombe doubled to right center, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rob DeVeney. However, UMass proceeded to break the game open by posting runs in third, fourth and fifth innings.
In the bottom of the third, Multner led off with a solo home run to right, while senior Adam Tempesta walked and later crossed the plate on a two-out double by Macdonald. Junior Mike Donato then drove in the squad's third run of the frame as he sent a single into left that plated Macdonald.
The Minutemen increased their advantage to 6-1 as freshman Tom Conley opened up the fourth inning with a single, was sacrificed over second by sophomore Matt Gedman, moved to third on a groundout and came home on an RBI single by Tempesta.
Baudinet just missed a home run to begin the bottom of the fifth as he ripped a pitch to center that hit the top of the fence for a stand-up triple. On the next play, Baudinet scored the team's seventh run of the day on an RBI groundout by Macdonald. Macdonald finished the weekend against the Rams 6-for-12 at the plate with 10 RBI and four runs scored.
Back-to-back walks to Dan Rhault and Tom Coulombe in the top of the sixth resulted in a pair of runs for Rhode Island. DeVeney poked a single up the middle to send home Rhault and Jeff Cammans sent a pitch through the left side of the infield to drive in Coulombe, cutting URI's deficit to 7-3.
The Rams could not draw any closer, though, as UMass put the game out of reach with a three-run eighth. Conley led off with a single up the middle and crossed the plate on an RBI single by senior Sam Boone. Tempesta followed up with a double that gave the Minutemen runners on second and third, while Baudinet hit a ground ball to short that was mishandled by Rhault, allowing Boone and Tempesta to score on the error. Tempesta's double was his 50th of his career, tying the school record first set by Justin Howard (1991-94).
Junior Jared Freni pitched 5.1 innings and picked up the win (2-3) for the Minutemen as he allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Sophomore Charlie Benson (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug) worked 3.1 innings of relief to register his first career save. Benson did not allow a run on the four hits he gave up in his outing and walked three batters.
Starter Eric Smith suffered just his second loss (5-2) of the season for Rhode Island as he lasted only 4.1 innings and surrendered seven runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Five UMass batters finished with two hits apiece in the contest, while the squad was led by Macdonald's four RBI. Macdonald, Tempesta, Baudinet and Conley each scored twice on the day, as well.
Coulombe went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Rams. Cammans was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and Mike LeBel batted 2-for-3.
The Minutemen will be off tomorrow before returning to the diamond on Tuesday, May 12, to take on Quinnipiac on Earl Lorden Field at 3 p.m.
