University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Holy Cross
UMass Baseball Falls At Holy Cross, 14-4
March 29, 2011 | Baseball
March 29, 2011
WORCESTER, Mass. - The UMass baseball team suffered a 14-4 setback to Holy Cross on Tuesday at Fitton Field as the Crusaders (11-10-1) posted runs in each of the first five innings of the contest. After falling down, 9-0, the Minutemen scored twice in the sixth and twice in the ninth and are now 6-10 on the season following the loss.
The Crusaders jumped out in front early in the contest with three straight hits in their first turn at bat. Alex Maldonado lofted a double to left field and crossed the plate after consecutive singles by Jack Laurendau and Nick Ciardiello. Laurendau came home on an RBI groundout by Patrick Puentes to increase the advantage to 2-0.
Holy Cross added runs in each of the next three innings. Josh Olson sent a leadoff single through the right side and later scored on a single up the middle by Ciardiello in the second. Then in the third, doubles by Puentes and Ryan Doerhoff yielded the Crusaders' fourth run of the afternoon. In the fourth, Maldonado began the frame with a walk, stole two bases and was driven in by a single to center off the bat of Eric Oxford.
Continuing the scoring, Holy Cross added four runs on four hits in the fifth to push the score to 9-0.
UMass broke up the shutout by plating a pair in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Anthony Serino started things off with a single through the left side and senior Matt Gedman reached on a fielder's choice, setting up an RBI single to right by senior Peter Copa. Gedman came home on an error on the same play for the team's second run.
However, the Crusaders put the game further out of reach with a five-run seventh before the Minutemen doubled their hit total with four singles in the ninth. After hits by Copa and freshman Alex Tuneski, freshmen Nik Campero and Kyle Adie both collected an RBI apiece to complete the scoring.
Freshman Ryan Lubreski started on the mound for UMass and took the loss (0-1) as he allowed four runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings of work with two walks and no strikeouts. Holy Cross' Tommy Marra registered the win (1-1) as he limited the Minutemen to two hits and threw five shutout innings, walked one and struck out two. Nate Walker tossed the final four innings of the contest and earned the save (1). He allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Olson paced the Crusaders at the plate with a 4-for-5 showing, three RBI and two runs scored. Ciardiello finished 3-for-4 in the contest, drove in four and scored once. Copa was the lone UMass player to register multiple hits as he batted 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Minutemen will next travel to Hartford this Thursday, Mar. 31, to take on the Hawks in a 3 p.m. match up.
