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About Army
- Army is 6-4 on the season so far, coming off of a split doubleheader against Coppin State on March 7.
- Alex Robinett, The Black Knights' ace pitcher, has been dominant on the mound as he has posted a 0.43 ERA, allowing just one earned run across three starts.
- Mark McCants is also having a surging start to 2015, leading Army with two home runs and a .375 batting average. He's logged 16 RBI in just 10 games.
- The Black Knights stopped Atlantic 10 member Dayton on Feb. 14, besting the Flyers 12-6.
- UMass is 3-10 all-time against Army. In 2014, UMass played Army in two different three-game sets, where Army swept the Minutemen in each. The Minutemen have not defeated the Black Knights since 2008.
Grant Receiving National Buzz
- Senior captain Andrew Grant has been receiving a lot of notice early in 2015. The 6-4 right-handed starterwas named the Atlantic 10's fourth-ranked prospect for the 2015 Draft in Baseball America's season preview. Grant was also named the conference's ninth-ranked prospect according to D1Baseball.com.
Experienced Arms
- The Minutemen bring one of the deepest pitching staffs in recent memory to the field in 2015 with nine of 11 hurlers who saw action last season returning this spring. Senior captains Conor LeBlanc (180) and Andrew Grant (142.1) have each logged over 140 innings in their careers, while redshirt junior Tim Cassidy is back for his third season after tossing 22.1 innings in his return from injury in 2014. Junior Brandon Walsh is also back in the startingrotation after starting four games last year, where he had a team-leading 3.02 ERA for UMass.
- Mike Geannelis also has starting experience, though primarily saw action as a reliever as a rookiein 2014 and led the team in wins with a 4-3 recored over 14 appearances.
Geannelis Looks To Build On Stellar Rookie Campaign
- Last year's Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, Mike Geannelis, is returning in 2015 and looking to start the year as hot as he finished it. In his last 11 games, Geannelis had 18 hits, raising his average from .300 on April 13 to finishing the year at .347. Geannelis also led the team in wins, picking up 4 wins with a 4.85 ERA. The then-freshman struck out 16 hitters in 29.2 innings.
Mac Is Back
- After missing all of 2014 due to injury and receiving a medical redshirt in 2014, second baseman/designated hitterRob McLam returns to the Minutemen lineup. McLam batted .311 in 2013 and .337 in 2012, leading the team in both seasons. He was named an All-Atlantic 10 Second Team selection in 2013.
Dual Threat
- Junior pitcher/catcher Brandon Walsh isn't only expected to start on the mound this year, but see action again behind the plate, as well. The two-way player had a breakout year in 2014, where he jumped his career batting average from .167 to .255. Walsh also appeared in 16 games on the mound for the Minutemen last season, starting four and leading the team with a 3.02 ERA. Not only did he strike out 35 hitters in 44.2 innings, but threw out 10 potential base stealers from behind the plate, as well. He drove in 16 runs and scored 14.
Next Up
- The Minutemen will face Harvard in a doubleheader in Winter Haven, Fla., on Tuesday, March 17, beginning at 2 p.m.
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