University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Army
Baseball Drops Season Opening Doubleheader To Army
March 14, 2015 | Baseball
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. - UMass baseball held the lead in both games of its season opening doubleheader against Army, but was unable to withstand rallies by the Black Knights (8-4) in both contests, falling 5-1 (7 innings) and 9-2 on Saturday afternoon at Jesuit High School.
In game one, UMass took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Junior Vinny Scifo singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by redshirt senior Rob McLam.
However, Army pulled in front with a four-run fifth as Jacob Page led off with a solo shot to tie the score at 1-1 and Ben Smith put the Black Knights on top with a two-out, three-run homer.
Army added its fifth run of the contest in the top of the sixth as Kris Lindner drew a leadoff walk and later cross the plate on a two-out RBI single by Page.
Starter Conor LeBlanc took the loss (0-1) for the Minutemen as he allowed four runs on five hits in five innings of work, walked one and struck out five. Alex Robinett collected the win (3-1) for the Black Knights. He limited UMass to one run on five hits, walked two and struck out 12 in a complete game effort.
In game two, UMass picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to lead, 2-0. Redshirt senior Kyle Adie began the inning with a single, Scifo was hit by a pitch and McLam singled to load the bases, setting up RBI groundouts by sophomore Mike Geannelis and junior John Jennings.
The Minutemen held the Black Knights off the board until the top of the fifth when the leadoff man Page was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Brandon Lee. Smith then tied the score at 2-2 with his double that brought in Lee.
Army then proceeded to score runs in each of its next four trips to the plate to pull away from UMass. Lindner reached on a two-base error and scored on a single by Alex Jensen in the sixth. Then in the seventh, Jensen capped off a three-run inning for the Black Knights with a two-run double. Army added two more unearned runs in the eighth and Lindner came around to score the team's ninth and final run after opening the top of the ninth with a double.
Sophomore Ryan Moloney worked 5.1 innings in his start for the Minutemen and suffered the loss (0-1) as he let up three runs, two earned, on six hits and struck out one with no walks. Jeremy Mortensen tossed six innings in his start for Army to pick up the win (1-0). He allowed two runs on three hits, walked two and struck out five.
McLam led UMass' offense in the doubleheader as he was 3-for-6 at the plate with an RBI, while Adie went 2-for-7 with a double and a run scored. For Army, Page was 5-for-7 on the afternoon with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored, Lindner scored four runs and Smith drove in five.
The teams will close out their weekend series on Sunday at Noon at Jesuit High School.
