University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Oklahoma State
Minutemen Drop Season Opener At OSU, 5-3
March 12, 2010 | Baseball
March 12, 2010
STILLWATER, Okla. - Despite holding a lead through five innings, the UMass baseball team could not withstand a rally in the sixth and dropped its season opener to Oklahoma State, 5-3, on Friday afternoon at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. With the setback, the Minutemen start off 2010 at 0-1, while the Cowboys improve to 5-2 on the year.
Senior Brian Baudinet began the season with a bang, drilling a home run to right on the second pitch of the contest. Then in the bottom of the third, Oklahoma State tied the score at one as Kevin David drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advance to third on a hit to shallow left by Dusty Harvard and scored on a sacrifice fly by Davis Duren.
In their next turn at-bat, the Minutemen climbed back on top. Junior Cameron McMullen legged out a dribbler up the middle for his first base hit of his UMass career. He later crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by junior Peter Copa to give UMass a 2-1 advantage.
Then in the top of the fifth, the Minutemen pushed their advantage to 3-1. Sophomore Tom Conley ripped a double into the gap in right center, went to third on a sacrifice by senior Garrett Glashoff and came in on an RBI single down the right field line by Eric Fredette.
However, the Cowboys' bats came to life in the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back singles by Tom Belza and Mark Ginther started off the inning. Then with one away, Dean Green sent a 3-1 pitch over the wall in center to put Oklahoma State on top for the first time, 4-3. The Cowboys followed up with an insurance run in the seventh, courtesy of a two-out RBI double down the left field line by Ginther that plated Dane Phillips.
Despite a solid showing through five, senior Jared Freni (0-1) took the loss for the Minutemen as he allowed four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings of work, striking out five and walking one. OSU ace Tyler Lyons (1-0) threw a complete game and let up three runs on 10 hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.
Fredette went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his UMass debut and was one of eight Minutemen to tally a base knock in the contest. Senior Mike Donato finished with multiple hits as well, with a 2-for-4 performance on the afternoon.
Green and Ginther led the way for the Cowboys' batters. Ginther hit 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Green finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
UMass will continue its four-game stint at Oklahoma State with a doubleheader against the Cowboys that is slated to begin at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, March 13.
