University of Massachusets Athletics
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Indiana
Indiana Takes Wild One From UMass In Extras, 11-10
March 16, 2011 | Baseball
March 16, 2011
AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The UMass baseball team had the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, but came just short of pulling off the upset as Indiana escaped with a 11-10 win in extra innings on Wednesday afternoon at Lake Myrtle Field. Following the loss, the Minutemen fall to 1-8, while the Hoosiers, who entered the week No. 42 in the RPI rankings, improve to 11-5 on the season.
UMass wasted no time getting the offense going as the squad led 5-0 after the first inning. A single by junior Alex Fischer, sandwiched between walks to sophomore Rich Graef and senior Eric Fredette chased Indiana starter Reed Reznicek just three batters into his outing. Graef and Fredette scored the first runs for the Minutemen after a botched throw home as senior Matt Gedman reached on a fielder's choice. Senior Peter Copa followed with a three-run shot, his fourth of the season and third in as many games this week.
Indiana posted pairs of runs in its next two trips to the plate to cut its deficit to 5-4. Wes Wilson and Micah Johnson had back-to-back base knocks to begin the top of the second with Johnson driving in Wilson with a single up the middle. Johnson later scored on an RBI groundout by Jerrud Sabourin for the squad's second run. Then in the top of the third, Alex Dickerson's two-run double to right center brought the Hoosiers within one.
UMass pushed its advantage to 6-4 in the bottom of the third. Freshman Adam Picard sent a one-out double down the left field line and crossed the plate on a single through the right side by classmate Josh Messier.
Scoring for a third-consecutive inning, Indiana managed two more runs in the fourth to tie the score at six. Sabourin opened up the frame with a walk and Trace Knoblauch was hit by a pitch. Then with two away, Dustin DeMuth and T.C. Knipp drove in the runs with a single to left center and a double to right, respectively.
After a scoreless fifth, the Hoosiers took their first lead of the day in the top of the sixth. Casey Smith was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, was sacrificed over to second, moved to third on a groundout and came in on a two-out single through the left side by Knipp that gave Indiana a 7-6 advantage.
The Minutemen promptly tied the score in the sixth as Fischer singled up the middle, advanced to second when Fredette walked and crossed the plate on a single to left by Gedman.
UMass climbed back on top with two in the bottom of the eighth. Gedman had yet another RBI single, sending home Graef, who drew a leadoff walk. The next batter, senior Kyle Multner, had a sacrifice fly to bring in Fredette, who reached earlier in the inning with a single through the left side.
With one away in the top of the ninth, Indiana rallied to tie the score at nine, sending the game into extra innings. Dickerson led off with a single and three batters later, Sabourin drove him with a single to shallow center. Matt Serling picked up the second RBI of the inning with a sacrifice fly to plate Johnson, who reached with a single through the right side of the infield.
After sending the Minutemen down in order in the bottom of the ninth, Dickerson belted a two-run homer to deep center field following a one-out walk to Knipp in the 10th.
UMass threatened to rally in their final turn at bat as singles by Fredette and Gedman and a walk to Copa loaded the bases with one away. After Multner was called out on strikes, Picard poked a single up the middle to send in Fredette, but Johnson kept the ball from getting too far out of the infield and prevented the tying run from coming home. The next batter, junior Tom Conley hit a chopper towards third. However, DeMuth was able to step on the bag for the force out to preserve the win for the Hoosiers.
Matt Dearden tossed 4.2 innings of relief for Indiana and logged the win (1-1) as he allowed three runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Sophomore Ron Wallace was tagged with the loss (0-1) for UMass as he surrendered two runs on one hit and walked one in 1.2 innings on the hill.
Gedman had a career day for the Minutemen with a career-high five hits, going 5-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored. Fredette finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, Fischer went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Copa contributed three RBI and scored once.
Dickerson and Johnson both went 3-for-6 to pace the Hoosiers with Dickerson driving in four and scoring twice. Johnson scored two and drove in one, as well.
UMass is off on Thursday, but will continue its week at the RussMatt Invitational with a game against Bucknell at 1 p.m. on Friday at Lake Myrtle Park Main Field.
