University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Richmond
Baseball Takes Series With 6-3 Win Over Richmond
April 11, 2010 | Baseball
April 11, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass baseball team rode a gritty pitching performance by senior co-captain Jared Freni to a 6-3 victory over Richmond in the rubber game of the teams' Atlantic 10 series on Sunday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. Prior to the start of game three, the Minutemen (4-17, 3-6 A-10) and the Spiders (15-15, 3-6 A-10) finished off the final three innings of game two, which was suspended due to darkness on Saturday. Richmond took that contest, 10-5.
UMass shook off the setback by taking a 1-0 leading in the first inning of the series finale. Junior Eric Fredette shot a one-out single into center and came around to score following two consecutive errors by Spiders' shortstop Adam McConnell.
Then in the second inning, the Minutemen tacked on another run as junior Peter Copa poked a leadoff single through the left side of the infield, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate when sophomore Alex Fischer sent a single up the middle to pick up his first career RBI.
However, Richmond climbed on top in its next turn at bat, scoring three times in the third. Derek Boliek began the frame with an infield hit, Mike Mergenthaler was struck by a pitch and Billy Barber singled through the left side to fill the bases with Spiders. With a full count, Cameron Brown drew a bases loaded walk that forced in the team's first run. After back-to-back strikeouts, Victor Croglio walked with a full count to plate the second of the inning for Richmond and Robby Massar was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run.
UMass tallied five of its 10 hits in the fifth inning and took all three runs back to regain the advantage, 5-3. Freshman Ryan Cusick opened up the inning by flaring a single into center and scored on a misplayed fly ball in left after moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Matt Gedman reached on the error and crossed the plate when the next batter, senior Mike Donato, connected for an RBI single up the middle. Senior Brian Baudinet followed with a double to right center and later scored on an RBI single by Copa.
The Minutemen would add an insurance run in the seventh without a hit as Fredette drew a bases loaded walk that drove in sophomore Tom Conley, who drew a one-out walk earlier in the frame.
A hit batter and two singles put the tying runs on base for Richmond in the top of the ninth, but sophomore Glen Misho induced a game-ending ground ball off the bat of Brown to escape the jam and earn his first collegiate save. Misho threw a scoreless ninth for UMass, allowing two hits with no walks and one strikeout.
Freni retired 16 of the last 17 batters he faced in the contest and earned the win (1-3) for the Minutemen, racking up a career-high 13 strikeouts. The senior threw eight innings and allowed three runs on just four hits and walked five. Starter Anthony Cafagna took the loss (1-2) for Richmond as he gave up five runs, four earned, on eight hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
Eight UMass batters combined for the squad's 10 hits, with Copa finishing 2-for-4 and Baudinet 2-for-5, both with a run scored. Copa, Fischer Fredette and Donato each logged an RBI on the afternoon.
Boliek and Barber totaled four of the Spiders' six hits, batting 2-for-4 and 2-for-5 respectively, each scoring a run.
In the game two setback, Richmond touched up starter Mike Gedman for eight runs and six hits in the first two innings on the way to the 10-5 victory.
The Minutemen scored three times in the bottom of the first courtesy of an RBI double by Donato, a sacrifice fly from Baudinet and an infield single by Copa that scored Donato.
In the top of the fourth Spiders' designated hitter Chris Cowell hit a solo home run off sophomore Joe Popielarczyk to bring the score to 9-3. The solo shot was the lone blemish in what was otherwise a solid relief outing by the right-hander who worked the final 4.2 innings on Saturday before play was halted, scattering three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
The team's resumed play on Sunday with a scoreless seventh before Evan Stehle knocked an RBI double to center for Richmond's 10th and final run.
UMass closed out the contest by scoring once in the eighth and once in the ninth. Donato led off the eighth with a single to right and came home on a single to left by Conley. Then in the squad's final turn at bat, Fischer began the ninth with a single up the middle. Donato later plated Fischer with a double to left center.
Matt Trent was the game two winner (1-4) for the Spiders. He worked all six innings on Saturday and surrendered three runs on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Mike Gedman took the loss (1-3) for the Minutemen.
Donato hit 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Matt Gedman and Fredette were both 2-for-5 at the plate in game two.
Barber and Cowell helped lead Richmond to its lone win of the weekend, each going 3-for-5 at the dish with two RBI and two runs scored.
UMass will next travel to Boston College on Tuesday, Apr. 13, for a 3 p.m. contest against the Eagles.
