University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Michigan
UMass Baseball Falls To Michigan, 11-6
March 05, 2011 | Baseball
March 5, 2011
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The UMass baseball team held an early lead, but five unearned runs proved costly in an 11-6 setback to Michigan at the Bearkat Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Following the loss, the Minutemen sit at 0-2 on the season, while the Wolverines move to 2-8 on the year.
UMass began the scoring in the bottom of the second as senior Kyle Multner drew a leadoff walk and scored on an error on the next play. Freshman Nik Campero, who reached on the error, then came around to score on an infield single by sophomore Rich Graef to give the Minutemen a 2-0 lead.
In their next turn at bat, Michigan answered with a four-run third. Four straight singles to begin the inning resulted in Patrick Biondi and Derek Dennis crossing the plate to tie the score at 2-2. Michael O'Neil, who drove in the Wolverines' first run, came home on an error and Coley Crank was forced in when Kevin Krantz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
UMass took one of the runs back in the bottom half of the frame. Senior Eric Fredette drew a one-out walk, moved to third on a double by senior Peter Copa and Dylan Begin plated him with a sacrifice fly.
Michigan increased its advantage to 6-3 with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the fifth. Three hit-by-pitches and a walk resulted in both Zach Johnson and Kevin Krantz scoring for the Wolverines.
Then in their next turn at bat, the Minutemen pulled back to within a run of Michigan at 6-5. Anthony Serino walked and Fredette was hit by a pitch to give UMass a pair of runners with no outs. After the runners moved up on a balk, Copa knocked in Serino with an RBI single to left. Fredette scored the team's fifth run of the afternoon on a double play ball.
The Minutemen loaded the bases in the seventh, drawing three walks, but were unable to capitalize on the situation.
The Wolverines went on to pull away with two in the eighth and three in the ninth. John Lorenz came up with a two-run single up the middle that brought in Garrett Stephens and Anthony Toth. Dennis and Toth both tallied RBI singles in Michigan's final turn at bat, followed by an RBI double off the bat of Crank.
UMass went on to score once more in the bottom of the ninth. As Serino drew a leadoff walk and came home on an RBI groundout by Fredette after moving up two bases on wild pitches.
Junior Leif Sorenson started for the Minutemen and took the loss (0-1) after allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits with two walks, two strikeouts and five hit batsmen. Reliever Matt Broder collected the win (1-0) for the Wolverines after not allowing a run in 2.2 innings on the hill, while surrendering one hit and striking out two.
Graef (2-for-4) and Copa (2-for-2) accounted for four of UMass' six hits and each drove in a run. Serino and Fredette scored two runs apiece, while Fredette picked up an RBI, as well.
Dennis helped paced Michigan's offense with a 3-for-3 showing at the plate, two RBI and two runs scored. O'Neill went 3-for-5 with two RBI and scored once. Biondi batted 2-for-4 and Toth hit 2-for-5 with each totaling two runs scored.
The Minutemen will close out the Bearkat Invitational with a pair of games against host Sam Houston State.
