University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Quinnipiac
13-5 UMass Win Over Quinnipiac
May 12, 2009 | Baseball
May 12, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - Senior Adam Tempesta hit a grand slam and broke the school career doubles record as he went 3-for-5 with five RBI, helping the UMass baseball team cruise to a 13-5 win over Quinnipiac on Tuesday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. The Minutemen, who are now 11-6 at home this season, move to 22-24 overall following the victory, while the Bobcats drop to 15-33.
With one out in the bottom of the first, Tempesta kick started the offense for UMass with a double down the left field line, his 51st of his career, as he passed Justin Howard (1991-94) to claim sole possession of the school record. Two batters later, senior Jim Macdonald ripped a triple to right that brought in Tempesta for the first run of the afternoon.
The Minutemen broke the game open the following inning, posting six runs on three hits. Sophomore Kyle Multner drew a one-out walk, stole second and came home when sophomore Matt Gedman dropped a double just inside the right field line. The next two batters, senior Sam Boone and sophomore Corey Volpicelli were hit by pitches, loading the bases for Tempesta, who smacked the first pitch he saw over the left field fence. Junior Brian Baudinet made it back-to-back home runs for UMass as he stepped to the plate and crushed a pitch over the bushes in left for his seventh of the season that increased the Minutemen's advantage to 7-0.
Quinnipiac managed to get on the board in the top of the third as Ryan Ullrich drove a leadoff single up the middle and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Gabe Guerino. However, UMass promptly took the run back in the bottom of the frame as junior Mike Gedman singled up the middle, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch before his brother Matt sent him in to score with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Bobcats went on to add three more runs in the fifth, cutting their deficit to 8-4. Ullrich and Bryn Doyle reached with singles, setting up a two-RBI double by Brian Monack. After moving to third on a groundout, Monack came around to score on a single through the left side by Joe Poletsky.
That would be as close as Quinnipiac would come, however, as the Minutemen proceeded to score in the sixth seventh and eighth innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Tempesta picked up his fifth RBI of the game with a double to left center that plated Boone. Macdonald then sent a single up the middle to drive in Tempesta for the squad's ninth run.
After Boone hit a solo shot in the seventh, UMass capped off its scoring with two runs in the eighth. Baudinet was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double by Macdonald. Baudinet scampered home on a wild pitch and Mike Gedman knocked in Macdonald with a sacrifice fly.
Pinch hitter Tyler Turgeon gave the Bobcats a run in the top of the ninth as he poked a single down the right field line to score Chris Migani who reached earlier in the inning on a one-out double.
Senior Mike DiCato threw five innings in his start for the Minutemen and earned the victory (5-3). He allowed four runs on six hits and walked one batter. Andrew Rinaldi tossed three innings for Qunnipiac and took the loss (0-1) as he surrendered eight runs on six hits and walked two.
In addition to Tempesta's performance at the plate, Macdonald finished the day 4-for-5 with two doubles and a triple to help lead the UMass hitters, registering two RBI. Boone went 2-for-3 at the plate and matched Tempesta with a team-best three runs scored in the contest.
Monack was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored for the Bobcats and Ullrich batted 2-for-4, scoring twice.
The Minutemen will be off tomorrow before opening an important Atlantic 10 series against Duquesne on Thursday, May 14, as UMass will be vying for an A-10 Tournament berth. Game one is slated for 3 p.m. on Earl Lorden Field.
