University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Connecticut
Home Runs Lift UConn Over Baseball, 10-2
April 06, 2010 | Baseball
April 6, 2010
STORRS, Conn. - The UMass baseball team plated the first run of the game, but UConn hit three home runs to hand the Minutemen a 10-2 setback at J.O. Christian Field on Tuesday afternoon. UMass is now 2-15 on the season, while the Huskies win their sixth straight to move to 18-7 overall.
The Minutemen got on the board with two down in the top of the third. Junior Eric Fredette was hit by a pitch, while classmate Matt Gedman followed up by ripping a triple to right center that scored Fredette.
UConn promptly took the run back, however, in the bottom half of the inning. Joe Pavone singled to shortstop to leadoff the Huskies' half of the third. The next batter, LJ Mazzilli sent home Pavone with an RBI double to left center, tying the score at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, John Andreoli reached on a fielder's choice and Pierre LePage drove him in with a two-out single to right for the go-ahead run. Nick Ahmed then belted a two-run homer that pushed the advantage to 4-1.
A solo blast by senior Brian Baudinet in the top of the sixth cut UMass' deficit to two and extended the senior's hitting streak to nine straight, but Kevin Vance hit an answering home run in the bottom of the inning that brought the score to 5-2.
UConn put the game out of reach with home runs in each of the next two innings. Mike Nemeth hit a 3-1 pitch over the fence in left that dove in three in the seventh and Mazzilli connected for a two-run shot in the eighth.
In his first start on the mound for the Minutemen, sophomore Leif Sorenson worked 4.2 innings and took the loss (0-1). He allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and one strikeout. Reliever Michael Zaccardo earned the victory (2-0) for the Huskies, working two scoreless innings and letting up two hits with no walks and one strikeout.
Junior Peter Copa was the lone UMass player to register multiple hits as he finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a double. Matt Gedman and Baudinet drove in one run apiece.
For UConn, five players tallied two hits apiece, with Mazzilli and Nemeth each recording three RBI and one run scored. LePage, Ahmed and Pavone all scored twice on the afternoon.
The Minutemen will play the home half of its series with the Huskies, tomorrow, Apr. 7, at 3 p.m. on Earl Lorden Field.
