University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Fairfield
Fairfield Edges UMass Baseball, 3-2, In 11 Innings
May 12, 2015 | Baseball
AMHERST, Mass. - With two strikes and two outs in the top of the ninth, Fairfield brought in the tying runs and went on to defeat UMass baseball in 11 innings, 3-2, at Earl Lorden Field on Tuesday afternoon, the Minutemen's 2015 home finale. The setback leaves UMass at 14-26, while the Stags improve to 16-30.
The Minutemen capitalized on an early defensive miscue by Fairfield to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Mike Hart singled to right and, on a failed pickoff attempt by starter Gavin Wallace, went all the way to third on the errant throw. The next batter, junior John Jennings, dropped an RBI single into center to put UMass on the board.
Then in the bottom of the third, the Minutemen added their second of the day following three straight singles by senior Paul Yanakopulos, redshirt senior Rob McLam and sophomore Mike Geannelis to open the frame.
However, despite having the leadoff man reach four more times in the contest, UMass was unable to plate another run. McLam tripled to right with one down in the seventh, but was one of 16 left stranded on the day for the Minutemen.
After having just two base runners reach third through the first eight innings. Kevin Radziewicz drove a pinch hit single back up the middle to open the ninth and Sal Ciccone followed with a single through the left side. Then, after the runners moved up to second and third on a wild pitch with two away, Alex Witkus lifted a two-run single into center.
UMass had the potential winning run gunned down at the plate for the final out in the bottom of the 10th before the Stags went on to take the lead in the top of the 11th. Ciccone roped a one-out double into right and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Brendan Tracy.
Geannelis worked 2.2 innings of relief and took the loss (0-2) for the Minutemen as he allowed one run on three hits with one walk and one strikeout. Fairfield's Mike Bonaiuto tossed four scoreless out of the bullpen en route to the win (2-1), letting up three hits with two walks and one strikeout.
Yanakopulos led UMass at the plate with a 3-for-5 day with a run scored, while McLam, Hart and Jennings all had multi-hit efforts, as well, all going 2-for-4. Ciccone hit 3-for-5 and scored twice for the Stags.
The Minutemen will be back in action when the squad opens up its final Atlantic 10 series of the season at George Mason on Thursday, May 14, at 3 p.m.
