University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Saint Louis
UMass Baseball Bests Saint Louis, 6-5
April 20, 2012 | Baseball
April 20, 2012
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Sophomore Nik Campero had a two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth to drive in the would-be winning run as the UMass baseball team took the series opener at Saint Louis, 6-5, on Friday evening at Billiken Sports Center. The victory moves the Minutemen to 13-13 overall and 7-3 in the Atlantic 10, while the Billikens drop to 25-12, 7-6 in conference play.
UMass began the contest with a 1-0 lead courtesy of three hits in the top of the second. Campero dropped a one-out single into center and moved to third on a single down the left field line by sophomore Nick Sanford with two away. Picking up his first career RBI on his first collegiate hit, freshman Paul Yanakopulos plated Campero with a single to left.
In the bottom half of the frame, though, Saint Louis answered with one swing to pull in front, 2-1. After Steve Fernandez began the Billikens' turn at bat with a single up the middle, Jerry Mancuso hit a two-out, two-run homer to right.
The teams played a scoreless third before UMass knocked in three runs on four hits to chase Saint Louis starter Alex Alemann from the game after just four innings. Following two quick outs, Sanford, Yanakopulos and junior Rich Graef strung together three straight singles to tie the score at 2-2. Sophomore Kyle Adie then put the Minutemen back in front with a two-RBI single to center.
The Billikens did not go quietly, however, rallying to tie the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh. A walk to Mancuso, sandwiched in between singles by Grant Nelson and Connor Gandossy, loaded the bases for Saint Louis with no outs in the frame. Mike Levine singled to right to send home Nelson and Mancuso, but that was all Saint Louis could manage off UMass starter Dennis Torres. After a bunt single loaded the bases once more, Torres induced a pop up and two fly balls to work out of the jam.
With a run in the top of the eighth, the Minutemen pulled back in front, 5-4. Sophomore Dylan Begin led off with a double down the left field line, moved to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Yanakopulos.
Once again loading the bases with no outs, the Billikens managed to pull level with UMass for a second straight inning. Following a strikeout by Gandossy, a ground ball by Levine brought in the fifth run of the day for Saint Louis. Senior Leif Sorenson escaped any further damage, though, inducing an inning-ending ground ball to leave the score at 5-5.
Then in the top of the ninth, junior Anthony Serino led off with a single, was sacrificed over to second and came in for the go-ahead run on a two-out RBI single to left by Campero.
Sorenson tossed two innings of relief for the Minutemen to collect the win (3-2). He allowed one run on one hit, walked one and struck out one. Torres tossed seven innings and allowed four runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
For the Billikens, Jon Levin took the loss (2-1) as he let up one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.
Campero led the way as UMass pounded out a season-high 15 hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Joining Campero as one of six Minutemen to tally multiple hits on the afternoon, Yanakopulos was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
Levine was 2-for-4 at the plate for Saint Louis with three RBI, while Mancuso was 1-for-1 with two RBI and scored twice.
The teams will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
