University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
CCSU
CCSU Bests Baseball In 17-12 Shootout
April 20, 2010 | Baseball
April 20, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass baseball team pounded out 14 hits, but could not overcome a 6-0 deficit, dropping a 17-12 shootout to Central Connecticut State on Tuesday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. The loss leaves the Minutemen at 7-20, while the Blue Devils improve to 15-12.
CCSU began the contest with a two-run first as Tommy Meade knocked in a pair by driving a two-out single up the middle. The Blue Devils then increased their advantage to 6-0 with a four-run top of the fourth. Back-to-back doubles by Sean Miller-Jones and Sean Allaire yielded the first run of the frame, while Allaire later scored on an error. With Mitch Wells on second, Pat Epps sent a 1-1 offering from junior Charlie Benson off the scoreboard in left for a two-run homer.
UMass halved its deficit with three runs in the bottom of the third. Junior Corey Volpicelli drew a leadoff walk and eventually came home on an RBI groundout by freshman Ryan Cusick. Junior Eric Fredette had a sacrifice fly to bring in sophomore Alex Fisher, who doubled to right center earlier in the inning. Consecutive doubles by junior Matt Gedman and Mike Donato then brought the score to 6-3.
The Blue Devils took one of the runs back in their next turn at bat as Allaire had a line drive home run over the fence in left, just out of the reach of Fischer. Then in the bottom half of the frame, following a leadoff walk to junior Peter Copa, senior Mike Gedman lofted a two-run shot off the foul pole in right to close the gap to 7-5.
CCSU stretched its advantage out to 10-5 after plating three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth, including an RBI double by Chris Renzoni, an RBI single from Miller-Jones and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Allaire.
However, the Minutemen answered with four runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth. Copa once again began the inning with a walk and later came home on an RBI fielder's choice ground ball by Fischer. Fredette's infield single brought in Mike Gedman. Matt Gedman's RBI ground out plated Fischer, while Cusick scored on an error to bring the score to 10-9. With Fredette at third, representing the tying run with two away, Harry Glynne worked out of the jam with a fly ball of the bat of senior Brian Baudinet, preventing any further damage.
That would be as close as UMass would come to overtaking the Blue Devils. In the top of the seventh, Epps gave CSSU some breathing room with a two-run single that pushed the score to 12-9.
In their final turn at bat, the Blue Devils tacked on five insurance runs, two of which came courtesy of an RBI single through the left side by Meade.
The Minutemen scored three times with two out in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short of a comeback. Fischer dropped an RBI single into center that sent home senior Ben Kessel, while Fredette's two-run single to right brought in Fischer and Cusick.
Sophomore Glen Misho started on the mound for UMass and took the loss (0-2) as he let up five runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout in two innings of work. Glynne, who entered the game for CCSU in the fourth, earned the win (1-2). He allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts, spending 2.1 innings on the hill.
Fredette, Mike Gedman and Fischer all went 3-for-5 in the contest for the Minutemen. Fredette drove in a team-best four RBI, while Fischer knocked in two and scored three times. Donato also contributed a pair of hits, going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Eight Blue Devils tallied at least two hits on the afternoon, paced by Allaire's 5-for-5 performance with five runs scored and three RBI. Epps and Meade chipped in four RBI apiece.
UMass will return to the diamond tomorrow, Apr. 21, as the squad will face Harvard in the Beanpot consolation game at 3 p.m. in Brockton, Mass.
