University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Baseball Edged By Siena, 3-2, In Home Finale
May 13, 2014 | Baseball
May 13, 2014
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass baseball team was edged by Siena, 3-2, on Tuesday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field, its final home game of the 2014 season. Following the setback, the Minutemen fall to 13-30 on the year, while the Saints improve to 20-29.
After five scoreless innings, Siena broke through for the first run of the contest in the top of the sixth. John Rooney led off with a single up the middle, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dave Hoffmann.
UMass responded to tie things up at 1-1 in the bottom half, plating a run without a hit. Seniors Nick Sanford and Nik Campero were both hit by pitches to begin the frame, while senior Dylan Begin reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases with no outs. With one away, sophomore John Jennings hit a fielder's choice ground ball up the middle to bring in Sanford.
The teams traded runs again in the seventh. In the top half, Vincent Citro drew a leadoff walk, stole second and went to third on an error on the play before scoring on a dropped fly ball.
Then in the Minutemen's turn at bat, another hit batter came around to score the tying run for a second straight inning. Sophomore Dan Jonah reached on a hit by pitch to begin the bottom of the seventh, stole second, advanced to third on a ground ball and crossed the plate on a one-out RBI single through the left side by redshirt junior Kyle Adie.
However, Siena managed to score the winning run in the top of the ninth. Citro drew a one-out walk, stole second and came home on a two-out double down the left field line by Justin Esquerra.
Ben Panunzio pitched one inning of relief for UMass and took the loss (0-1) as he allowed one run on one hit and walked one. For the Saints, Chris Amorosi tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief en route to the win (1-1). He allowed two hits with no walks and one strikeout. Neil Fryer pitched a hitless ninth to earn a save (6).
Adie finished the day with two of the Minutemen's four hits in the contest as he went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Esquerra and Rooney both batted 2-for-5 for Siena, contributing an RBI and a run scored, respectively.
UMass will wrap up the regular season this Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17, with a three-game Atlantic 10 series at Saint Joseph's.