University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Connecticut
#26 UConn Slugs Past UMass Baseball, 18-3
April 18, 2011 | Baseball
April 18, 2011
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AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass baseball team scored early, but could not hold off Connecticut, ranked 26th in this week's Collegiate Baseball poll, as the Huskies used eight extra base hits to help defeat the Minutemen, 18-3 on Monday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. Following the setback, UMass is now 11-17 on the season, while UConn improves to 22-12-1.
The Huskies struck for four runs in the first with two away and posted four more in the second. John Andreoli and Doug Elliott ripped RBI doubles in the first and George Springer drove in three with a bases-clearing double in the second before Mike Nemeth hit a solo shot to right.
UMass managed a run with two outs in the bottom of the first. Senior Matt Gedman extended the inning with a single to right that pushed his hit streak to a career-high 15 straight games and came home on an infield hit by junior Tom Conley. Senior Kyle Multner followed with a single up the middle, but the Minutemen were unable to plate more than one in the frame.
UMass scored again the next inning as freshman Nik Campero led off with a double to left and crossed the plate on an RBI single to center in the second, cutting its deficit to 8-2. The Minutemen, down 10-2, had the opportunity to climb closer in the third, but were unable to capitalize after loading the bases with one down in the inning.
Further putting a comeback out of reach, UConn scored three in the fourth and four in the fifth before eventually tacking on its 18th and final run in the top of the seventh.
After UMass had been held without a hit since the third inning, Campero came through with his second double of the afternoon, ripping a pitch down the right field line to open the bottom of the ninth. Freshman Josh Messier knocked him in with a single up the middle to cap off the scoring.
Junior Joe Popielarczyk started and took the loss (1-1) for the Minutemen after surrendering eight runs, seven earned, on seven hits and walking one in 1.1 innings on the hill. Reliever Anthony Marzi collected the win (1-0) for the Huskies as he threw three hitless shutout innings, walked one and struck out three. Stephen Catalina closed out the game for UConn to pick up the save (1) after tossing the final three innings of the contest and allowing one run on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Gedman and Campero combined for four of UMass' nine hits, going 2-for-5 and 2-for-3 respectively. Campero scored twice, as well.
Springer collected four RBI and was 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Huskies, while LJ Mazzilli and Ryan Fuller both finished 3-for-4. Mazzilli crossed the plate three times, as did Nemeth. Elliott and Tim Martin contributed three RBI apiece.
The Minutemen will return to action tomorrow, Apr. 19, with a game at Central Connecticut, scheduled for 3 p.m. in New Britain, Conn.
