University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Xavier
UMass Baseball Shut Out By Xavier 7-0
April 24, 2011 | Baseball
April 24, 2011
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass baseball team was unable to solve Xavier's pitching in a 7-0 setback, the teams' series finale on Sunday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. With the loss, the Minutemen fall to 12-21 on the season, 5-7 in the Atlantic 10, while the Musketeers improve to 21-18 overall and 6-6 in conference play.
Xavier struck for two runs in the top of the first. John McCambridge led off the game with a double down the right field line and came home on an RBI single to left by Ben Thomas. Thomas stole second and was sacrificed over to third before Seth Willoughby plated him with a single to right.
Willoughby drew a five-pitch walk to open the fourth and later came in for the Musketeers third run on a passed ball. Ryan Bellamy, who reached on an error, crossed the plate on an RBI single through the right side off the bat of Patrick Paligraf.
Xavier then made it a 6-0 game with another pair of runs in the top of the fifth. McCambridge started things off with a single through the left side and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Bellamy. Brian Bruening then came through with a two-out single though the right side that brought around Phil Bauer.
Thomas capped off the scoring with a line drive home run in the top of the ninth, his league-leading 12th of the season.
The Minutemen's best chance to plate a run came in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Anthony Serino led off with a four-pitch walk, went to second on a single to center by senior Eric Fredette and to third on a double play ball. However, Xavier starter Vinny Nittoli escaped the inning without allowing a run, inducing a ground ball off the bat of senior Peter Copa.
Sophomore Dennis Torres suffered the loss (2-3) in his start for UMass as he surrendered, six runs, four earned, on eight hits with one walk and one strikeout. Nittoli improved to 5-1 on the year with the win. He tossed six shutout innings and scattered four hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
McCambridge paced the Musketeers with a 4-for-5 afternoon at the plate and two runs scored. Thomas finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Bauer and Bruening both batted 3-for-4.
Fredette, freshman Dylan Begin and sophomore Rich Graef provided one hit apiece for the Minutemen, all singles, while Copa had the squad's lone extra base hit on the afternoon, his sixth double of the year.
UMass will be back in action on Tuesday, Apr. 26, facing Northeastern at 3:30 p.m. in the Beanpot consolation game at Fenway Park.
