University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
St. Bonaventure
UMass Takes Series With 7-6 Win
May 02, 2009 | Baseball
May 2, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - Sophomore Corey Volpicelli's 2-for-3 performance and three RBI in his first career start, along with a huge outfield assist by sophomore Kyle Multner to throw out the potential tying run at home in the eighth, helped the UMass baseball team to a 7-6 victory over St. Bonaventure on Saturday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. With the win, the Minutemen take the series from the Bonnies (21-19, 7-12 A-10) and improve to 18-22 overall, 10-10 in the Atlantic 10.
Sophomore Peter Copa drew a leadoff walk to begin UMass' half of the second, was sacrificed over to second by sophomore Matt Gedman and Volpicelli poked a check-swing single into right field to drive in the first run of the game.
St. Bonaventure climbed on top, 2-1, the following inning. Brad Steinbach began the frame by ripping a triple to left center and crossed the plate on an infield single by the next batter, Alex Calderon. Calderon then moved to third on a pair of groundouts and came in on a bunt single by Ryan Skellie.
Then in the bottom of the third, senior Jim Macdonald and junior Mike Donato tallied back-to-back one-out singles to get things started for the Minutemen. With the runners on second and third and two away, the Bonnies intentionally walked Matt Gedman to face Volpicelli. However, Volpicelli made St. Bonaventure pay for the intentional pass, sending a 0-2 pitch up the middle for a two-RBI single that brought in Macdonald and Donato and regained the lead for UMass, 3-2.
The Minutemen added two more in the fourth. Boone walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Brian Baudinet. Senior Adam Tempesta, who reached base with a double, came in on an error on Baudinet's sacrifice fly as the cutoff man muffed the throw to third, allowing Tempesta to trot home for the team's fifth run.
In the top of the fifth, the Bonnies took one of the runs back as Calderon sent a leadoff single up the middle and later scored from second on a RBI base knock to center by Skellie.
UMass tacked on two key insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Baudinet reached on an error to begin the inning and Copa plated him with a two-out single to left. Matt Gedman then dropped a single into right that sent home Copa and increased the Minutemen's advantage to 7-3.
The final two UMass runs proved valuable as St. Bonaventure threatened to make a comeback in the top of the eighth. Michael Greico opened up the frame with a double into the gap in left center, while Nick Brennen followed with a walk and Steinbach reached on an error, which also allowed Greico to come in to score the Bonnie's fourth run. Kevin Suminski pinch hit and drew a walk to load the bases for Ryan Mosher, who sent a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Steinbach. Brennen came in on the same play as the throw home was wild, cutting the deficit to one. Then with two down, Skellie singled to left with pinch runner Jamie Wallschlaeger on second, but Multner gunned Wallschlaeger down at the plate to end the inning.
Sophomore Nick Serino started for the Minutmen and picked up the win (4-3). He pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Junior Bryan Leigh worked the ninth and earned his second save of the season, walking one and striking out two in the frame. Jordan Crane took the loss (1-1) for the Bonnies as he let up five runs on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts in three innings on the mound.
In addition to Volpicelli, four more UMass players had multi-hit outings, led by Boone, who was 3-for-3 with a run scored. Tempesta, Macdonald and Donato all finished 2-for-5 at the plate and scored one run apiece.
Calderon (3-for-3) and Skellie (3-for-4) combined for six of St. Bonaventure's 11 hits, Calderon with two runs scored and Skellie with two RBI.
The teams will wrap up the weekend series tomorrow, May 3, with game three at noon on Earl Lorden Field.
