University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Navy
Minutemen Suffer 7-3 Setback To Navy
March 14, 2011 | Baseball
March 14, 2011
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The UMass baseball team started out the afternoon with a pair of runs in the first, but was limited to just one more the rest of the way in a 7-3 setback to Navy on Monday afternoon at Chain of Lakes Park. Following the loss, the Minutemen are now 1-6 on the season, while the Midshipmen level their record at 7-7-1.
After sophomore Dennis Torres struck out the first batter of the game, Nick Driscoll singled to center and Alex Azor reached on an error that extended the inning. Greg Dupell then picked up an RBI on a groundout that plated Driscoll and Azor came home on a double to left center by Taylor Cato for the Mids' second run.
UMass responded promptly by tying the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Rich Graef sent a leadoff single into shallow center and freshman Kyle Adie followed by drawing a walk. After both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, senior Eric Fredette knocked in Graef with a single to center. Adie crossed the plate when the next batter, senior Matt Gedman, grounded into a double play.
Navy pulled back in front with a run in the top of the fourth as Kyle Manzelli opened up with a single to center and later came in on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Wright.
The Mids tacked on insurance runs in the sixth, seventh and a pair in the eighth. Craig Veech singled in Cato to bring the score to 4-2 and Dave Milanes plated Azor with a single up the middle the following inning. Then in the eighth, Dupell followed Azor's second hit of the day with a triple and scored on a passed ball for Navy's final run.
UMass completed the scoring in the bottom of the eighth as senior Peter Copa hit a leadoff home run to left, his second of the season.
Torres pitched five innings and allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts, taking the loss (0-1) for the Minutemen. Johnny Schoberl collected the win (2-0) for the Midshipmen. He gave up two runs on three hits, walked five and struck out three in 5.2 innings on the hill.
Fredette finished 2-for-5 at the plate for the Minutemen and drove in a run. Copa went 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored. Azor (2-for-5), Dupell (2-for-5), Milanes (2-for-4) and Cato (2-for-4) all registered multiple hits for Navy. Azor scored three runs and Dupell had two RBI and a run scored.
UMass will face its second Patriot League opponent of the week when the squad plays Army at 3:00 tomorrow, Mar. 15, at Chain of Lakes Stadium.
