University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
14-27, 8-13
Rhode Island
24-23, 15-6
Baseball Outlasts Rhode Island, 6-3
May 15, 2016 | Baseball
KINGSTON, R.I. - Senior Brandon Walsh struck out eight over 7.2 innings and freshman Cooper Mrowka had three RBI, plus his first collegiate triple, as the University of Massachusetts baseball team topped Rhode Island 6-3 on Sunday at Bill Beck Field.
With the win, UMass is now 15-26 on the season and 8-13 in Atlantic 10 play, while the Rams are now 24-23 (15-6 A-10). The result also snapped URI’s five-game win streak.
The Minutemen got on the board early in the contest. After being hit by a pitch in the first inning, junior Dylan Morris advanced two bases on a throwing error and ultimately scored on a wild pitch, giving UMass a 1-0 lead.
UMass tacked on two more runs in the fourth in a sequence that began with a John Jennings walk. After Mike Geannelis poked a single through the right side, Mrowka sent a three-bagger to right field to bring in both Jennings and Geannelis and extend the margin to 3-0.
The score moved to 4-0 in the top of the sixth when Mrowka singled to plate Jennings.
Rhode Island narrowed the margin to 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh when Martin Figueroa doubled down the left field line, scoring Laurence Hill and Chris Hess. After UMass responded with a run in the top of the eighth, URI’s Connor Foreman clubbed his first home run of the season, moving the score to 5-3 in favor of UMass.
Brandon Walsh (4-1) earned the win for the Minutemen on the bump, scattering five hits over 7.2 innings. He allowed three runs and walked five. URI's Steve Moyers (4-6) was hooked with the loss after five innings of work. Moyers allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk, striking out six.
Evan Mackintosh picked up his sixth save with his 1.1 inning performance, during which he surrendered just one hit and notched one strikeout.
With one week remaining in the regular season, the Minutemen wrap up the road schedule with a trip to Fairfield, Conn. and a Tuesday, May 17 contest against the Fairfield Stags. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
For continued coverage of UMass baseball, follow the team on Twitter @UMassBaseball and on Facebook at Facebook.com/UMassBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Walsh, Brandon (4-1)
L: Moyers (4-6)
S: Mackintosh, Evan (6)
Batting:
2B: Jennings, John 1
3B: Mrowka, Cooper 1
RBI: Mrowka, Cooper 3
SH: Hart, Mike 1 ; Carey, Hunter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morris, Dylan 2 ; Jennings, John 3 ; Geannelis, Mike 1
SB: Scifo, Vinny 1
HBP: Morris, Dylan 1
PO: Avallone, Jon 1
Batting:
2B: Figueroa 1
HR: Foreman 1
RBI: Figueroa 2 ; Foreman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hess 1 ; Foreman 1 ; Hill 1
SB: Hess 1
HBP: Hess 1
