University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
13-22, 9-8
Richmond
21-19, 10-7
UMass Baseball Rallies Past Richmond, 5-4, To Take Series
May 02, 2015 | Baseball
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AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass baseball team used a two-run single by redshirt senior Adam Picard in the bottom of the eighth to rally past Richmond, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. With their second straight victory, the Minutemen clinch the series against the Spiders (21-19, 10-7) and improve to 9-8 in the Atlantic 10, 13-22 overall.
Richmond opened the contest with a home run from leadoff man Tyler Beckwith, but UMass countered with a run of its own in the bottom of the first to tie the score. Sophomore Bryce Maher began the Minutemen's turn at bat with a walk, moved to second on a bunt single by senior Paul Yanakopulos and scored following a pair of ground balls off the bat of redshirt senior Kyle Adie and sophomore Mike Geannelis.
The Spiders pulled back in front with a run in the third and made it a 3-1 advantage, scoring again in the fourth. Brandon Johnson started the third with a single through the left side and later crossed the plate on an RBI triple by Daniel Brumbaugh. Another leadoff single yielded the team's third run an inning later. Michael Morman legged out an infield hit, moved to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Dacey.
UMass tied things up at 3-3 with a pair in the bottom of the fourth. Picard and sophomore Dylan Morris, the first two batters of the inning, drew back-to-back walks and were moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt by junior John Jennings. Freshman Dylan Robinson dropped a single into shallow center that plated Picard and Morris came home on a sacrifice fly by Vinny Scifo.
Richmond climbed on top once more in the fifth. Keenan Bartlett drew a leadoff walk, went to third on a single through the right side by Brumbaugh, and scored the Spiders' fourth run on a sacrifice fly by Morman.
After Richmond hurler James Lively retired the side in order in three straight innings, the Minutemen found success against his replacement, Dan Martinson, in the eighth. Maher was retired for the first out of the inning on a diving catch by Spiders' centerfielder Tanner Stanley, but UMass went on to load the bases with a single through the right side by Yanakopulos and walks to Adie and Geannelis. Then Picard dropped a two-run single inside the left field line to send in Yanakopulos and Adie for the tying and go-ahead runs.
Geannelis took the mound in the top of the ninth and worked around a one-out walk to earn his third save of the season, facing three batters in the frame. Senior Andrew Grant picked up the win (1-4) in relief as he pitched 2.2 hitless innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Martinson worked one-third of an inning and took the loss (0-2) as he allowed two runs on one hit and walked two.
Yanakopulos registered two of the Minutemen's five hits and scored once in the contest, while Brumbaugh went 2-for-3 for the Spiders.
The teams will close out the series with game three tomorrow, May 3, at Noon on Earl Lorden Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Grant, Andrew (1-4)
L: Martinson (0-2)
S: Geannelis, Mike (3)
Batting:
3B: Brumbaugh 1
HR: Beckwith 1
RBI: Beckwith 1 ; Brumbaugh 1 ; Morman 1 ; Dacey 1
SH: Bartlett 1
SF: Morman 1 ; Dacey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Beckwith 1 ; Morman 1 ; Johnson 1 ; Bartlett 1
SB: Beckwith 1 ; Stanley 1 ; Dacey 1
CS: Wood 1
HBP: Adams 1
PO: Kraeger 1
Batting:
RBI: Geannelis, Mike 1 ; Picard, Adam 2 ; Robinson, Dylan 1 ; Scifo, Vinny 1
SH: Jennings, John 2
SF: Scifo, Vinny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Maher, Bryce 1 ; Yanakopulos, Paul 1 ; Adie, Kyle 1 ; Picard, Adam 1 ; Morris, Dylan 1
PO: Robinson, Dylan 1
