University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Quinnipiac
Late Runs Carry UMass Past Quinnipiac, 5-2
May 11, 2010 | Baseball
May 11, 2010
HAMDEN, Conn. - The UMass baseball team scored the would-be winning run with two outs in the top of the eighth and added another pair of runs in the ninth on the way to a 5-2 victory over Quinnipiac on Tuesday afternoon. Following the win, the Minutemen are now 17-23 on the season, while the Bobcats fall to 14-31.
Freshman Rich Graef led off the game with a single to right, stole second, went to third on a single to left center by junior Eric Fredette and came home on a sacrifice fly by junior Matt Gedman to put UMass on the board.
The Minutemen then increased their lead to 2-0 with another sacrifice fly in the top of the third. Fredette opened up the frame with a single up the middle, advanced to third on an error and crossed the plate on a fly ball hit by senior Brian Baudinet.
After leaving the bases loaded in the fourth and stranding two in the fifth, Quinnipiac finally broke through for a pair of runs in the sixth to tie the score at two. Joe Poletsky and Chris Migani started things off with a walk and a bunt single, respectively. Gabe Guerino moved the runners up to second and third with a sacrifice, while the next batter, Ray Buckley, sent in Poletsky with a sacrifice fly. Then with two down, Migani scampered home on a wild pitch for the Bobcats' second run.
UMass climbed back on top by a run in the eighth. Junior Peter Copa reached on a fielder's choice and stole second before crossing the plate on a two-out RBI double down the left field line by senior Garrett Glashoff.
The Minutemen then followed up by tacking on a pair of insurance runs in the ninth. Fredette drew a one-out walk and with two down, Baudinet legged out an infield single to extend the inning. Mike Gedman plated Fredette with an RBI single, while Baudinet scored the final run of the contest on a passed ball.
Charlie Benson threw 1.1 innings of perfect relief to earn the win (2-1) as he retired all four batters he faced. Though not factoring into the decision, sophomore Ben Hart was effective in his first career start, allowing just two runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 5.2 innings on the hill. Sophomore Leif Sorenson worked a scoreless ninth for the Minutemen to log his fifth save of the season. He allowed one hit and struck out one.
Neil Mammele took the loss (0-1) for Quinnipiac. He surrendered one run on two hits and walked one in 1.2 innings of work.
Fredette, Baudinet, Mike Gedman, and Glashoff all finished the afternoon 2-for-4 at the plate for UMass. Fredette scored twice, while Matt Gedman, Baudinet and Glashoff had one RBI apiece.
Ryan Ullrich and Ben Farina combined for six of the Bobcats' seven hits in the contest, both going 3-for-5 at the plate. Buckley had the squad's lone RBI.
The Minutemen will next travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, to face Xavier in an Atlantic 10 series beginning with game one on Friday, May 14, at 3 p.m.
