University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
George Washington
Freni Pitches UMass Past George Washington, 4-1
May 01, 2010 | Baseball
May 1, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - Senior Jared Freni's masterful pitching performance carried the UMass baseball team to a 4-1 win over George Washington on Saturday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field, leveling the A-10 series between the squads at 1-1. Freni allowed just two hits and one unearned run, out-dueling Colonials' ace Eric Cantrell, who suffered just his second loss (7-2) of the season. The Minutemen are now 11-22 on the season and 8-9 in conference play, while GW falls to 23-20, 11-6 in the A-10.
Despite being unable to score a run with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the second, UMass was undeterred. The following inning, junior Peter Copa came up with a clutch two-out single up the middle that gave the Minutemen a 2-0 lead. Seniors Mike Donato and Brian Baudinet both scored on the play after reaching base on a fielder's choice and a single, respectively.
The Colonials cut their deficit in half by scratching out a run in their next turn at bat. Leadoff hitter Tom Zebroski reached on an error, was sacrificed over to second, moved to third on an infield single and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Holland.
UMass later added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. After consecutive errors allowed juniors Eric Fredette and Matt Gedman to reach base, Baudinet sent a double over the head of right fielder Brandon Gillette to plate Fredette. Copa then stepped to the plate and drove in Matt Gedman with a single through the left side.
George Washington went more than five innings between hits as the squad did not manage another base knock until the ninth inning, a ground-ball single through the infield that brought the tying run to the plate with two away. However, sophomore Leif Sorenson induced a fly ball to center off the bat of Brendon Kelliher to preserve the win and log his third save of the season.
Sorenson recorded all three outs in a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit. Freni worked eight innings to earn the victory (2-4), struck out five and walked two. Cantrell surrendered four runs, two earned, on 12 hits with two walks and six strikeouts, going the distance for the Colonials.
Five Minutemen had multi-hit performances at the plate, paced by Baudinet who was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Copa finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Fredette (2-for-5), Matt Gedman (2-for-3) and Mike Gedman (2-for-4) each contributed a pair of hits.
UMass and George Washington will close out the weekend with the rubber game of the series tomorrow at noon on Earl Lorden Field.
