University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
15-26, 0
George Mason
22-26-1, 0
UMass Baseball Out-Duels George Mason, 3-2
May 14, 2015 | Baseball
FAIRFAX, Va. - Behind a stellar pitching effort from sophomore Ryan Moloney, the UMass baseball team took game one of its Atlantic 10 series at George Mason on Thursday, 3-2. With the win, the Minutemen improve to 15-26, 11-11 in A-10 play, while the Patriots fall to 22-26-1 overall and 11-11 in conference action.
UMass plated the first run of the day in its first turn at bat. Redshirt senior Kyle Adie led off the game with a single up the middle, was sacrificed over to second and scored on a two-out single to right by redshirt senior Adam Picard.
The Minutemen increased their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth. Redshirt senior Rob McLam knocked a one-out single through the right side of the infield, moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and came home when sophomore Mike Geannelis reached on an error with two away.
In the seventh, the teams traded runs. First UMass used a pair of doubles by McLam and Geannelis in the top half to push the margin to 3-0. However, George Mason took the run back in the bottom of the inning as Ray Toto dropped a leadoff single into center and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Michael Smith.
The Patriots then threatened to rally in the bottom of the ninth. Brady Acker opened up the frame with a walk, while Toto followed with a double down the left field line to put the potential tying run in scoring position for George Mason with no outs.
However, junior Ben Panunzio entered from the bullpen and induced a pop up before the Patriots scored their second run on a groundout by Derek Evans. Panunzio then recorded the final out on a bunt by Smith to complete his first save of the season.
Moloney went eight innings in his start and collected the win (4-4) as he limited George Mason to two runs, one earned, scattering five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Jake Kalish was hooked with the loss (5-6) for the Patriots as he allowed three runs, two earned, on 10 hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
McLam paced the UMass bats on the afternoon with a 3-for-5 showing with two runs scored. Geannelis and junior Vinny Scifo both finished the day 2-for-4. Toto provided three of George Mason's five hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored.
The teams will be back in action tomorrow, May 15, with game two of the series set for a 3 p.m. start in Fairfax, Va.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Moloney, Ryan (4-4)
L: Kalish (5-6)
S: Panunzio, Ben (1)
Batting:
2B: McLam, Rob 1 ; Geannelis, Mike 1
RBI: Picard, Adam 1 ; Geannelis, Mike 1
SH: Yanakopulos, Paul 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Adie, Kyle 1 ; McLam, Rob 2
SB: Scifo, Vinny 1
Batting:
2B: Nelin 1 ; Toto 1
RBI: Evans 1 ; Smith 1
SF: Smith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Acker 1 ; Toto 1
