University of Massachusets Athletics
Connecticut, UMass Lowell On Deck For UMass Baseball
May 09, 2016 | Baseball
| Massachusetts (14-22, 7-10 A-10) at Connecticut (24-22, 8-9 American) |
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| Date | Time | Tuesday, May 10 | 3 p.m. |
| Location | Weather |
Storrs, Conn. (J.O. Christian Field) | Directions
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| Live Stats |
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| Live Video |
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| Social Media | @UMassBaseball  | @UConnBaseball |
| Probable Starters |
Massachusetts: TBA
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| Massachusetts (14-22, 7-10 A-10) at UMass Lowell (17-26, 5-16 America East) |
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| Date | Time | Wednesday, May 11 | 2 p.m. |
| Location | Weather |
Lowell, Mass. (LeLacheur Park) | Directions
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| Live Stats |
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| Live Video |
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| Social Media | @UMassBaseball | @RiverHawkBB |
| Probable Starters |
Massachusetts: TBA
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Batting Practice
- The Massachusetts baseball team returns north of the Mason-Dixon line for the remainder of the regular season and faces Connecticut and UMass Lowell on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. First pitch in Tuesday's contest is set for 3 p.m. from Storrs, Conn., while UMass Lowell will host the Minutemen at 2 p.m. from LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass.
- UMass previously hosted UConn on April 19, picking up a 9-5 win and snapping the Huskies six-game winning streak.
- Wednesday's game will be the first between the Minutemen and UMass Lowell in the River Hawks' Division I tenure. The squads were slated to meet in 2014, UML's first as a Division I institution, but the game was postponed.
Recap in a Minute
- An outpouring of seven runs in the eighth inning, in conjunction with a seven inning performance from Brandon Walsh (3-1), were instrumental in UMass' 8-3 win over Richmond on Sunday in the teams' series finale. In earning the win, Walsh once again strung together a strong outing, surrendering just three runs and striking out six throughout his start. UMass also sent 12 men to the plate in the eighth inning sequence.
- The Minutemen nearly eked out a victory in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Spiders, but a ninth inning comeback effort for Richmond sent the game to extra innings before UMass fell in the 11th. Despite the setback, freshman Justin Lasko shined once again on the bump, surrendering only two runs in his eight innings of work.
Scouting Connecticut
- UConn (24-22, 8-9 American) is in the midst of hosting eight of nine games at home, opening the stretch this past weekend against No. 24 East Carolina. Despite being dealt a sweep, the Huskies were never far behind ECU, falling by no more than two runs in each game.
- Willy Yahn (.320) and Jack Sundberg (.272) continue to lead the Huskies' offense, with Yahn a constant force at the top of the lineup. Sundberg hammered his second grand slam in as many weeks on Saturday, while Yahn has started all 46 games and tallied 16 doubles, which is tied for the conference lead.
- Junior Anthony Kay, a 2013 draft selection of the New York Mets, stands out among UConn's pitching staff. In making 12 starts, the Stony Brook, N.Y. southpaw boasts a 5-2 record and has tossed more innings (83.1) than any other pitcher on the team.
- Coach Jim Penders is now in his 13th season at the helm of the UConn baseball program. Since taking the reins, Penders has guided the Huskies to over 400 wins and helped seven players earn All-American honors. A UConn double-graduate, Penders earned his bachelor's degree in 1994 from the university and added a master's four years later.
Scouting UMass Lowell
- The River Hawks (17-26, 5-16 America East) have endured some struggles of late as the squad has fallen in its last eight games. However, five of those setbacks saw a final margin of three runs or less.
- UML's offense largely runs through Joe Consolmagno (.294) and Steve Passatempo (.266), combining for 12 home runs and 59 RBI. Earlier this season, Consolmagno has a stretch of 15 straight games reaching base, while Passatempo's 10 homers lead America East.
- Sophomore and Rochester, Mass. native Andrew Ryan has guided the River Hawks' starting rotation, earning three wins and 2.67 ERA. Brendan Long has been strong out of the bullpen, closing the door for eight saves and notching 14 strikeouts in his 16.2 innings of work.
- Ken Harring is in his 12th year at the helm of the UML baseball program. Under his watch, the River Hawks have captured over 300 wins and successfully navigated the transition to Division I baseball. In 2014, the university's first as a Division I institution, UML won 20 games and finished third in America East.
Let's See Those Bats
- Tallying four hits and also taking advantage of an error, UMass scored seven runs in the eighth inning of Sunday's game at Richmond.
- The sequence saw Jon Avallone, Ryan Lever, Mike Hart, Dylan Morris, Vinny Scifo, Hunter Carey, and Mike Geannelis all cross the plate.
- UMass' other run came in the first inning when Hart sent a 2-2 offering over the right field fence for his third home run of the season, giving the Minutemen a 1-0 advantage.
Strong Pitching On Display
- The Richmond series last weekend was highlighted in part by strong pitching performances turned in by Brandon Walsh and Justin Lasko.
- Walsh has displayed tremendous endurance in his four starts this season, tossing at least 110 pitches in each, including 123 against Fordham on April 30 and 124 on Sunday at Richmond. The latter count set a new career-high for Walsh in that category.
- Lasko has gained attention this spring as an arm to watch, posting three wins on the season. Despite receiving a no-decision on Saturday to wrap up UMass' doubleheader with Richmond, only two runs were charged to the Leominster, Mass. product. He did not allow a single run in his five-inning appearance on April 22 against La Salle.
Lever Continuing To Impress
- With two multi-hit games over the weekend, freshman Ryan Lever extended his active hitting streak to six consecutive games--surpassing his previous career-best of four games.
- The rookie tallied five hits throughout the Richmond series, including a two-RBI night to close out Saturday's doubleheader against the Spiders.
A `Hart' Of Gold
- Junior Mike Hart has now hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, most recently going 2-for-3 on Sunday at Richmond with a solo homer.
- The Lowell, Mass. product also clubbed a two-run shot in the fifth inning of Saturday's doubleheader opener as part of a 2-for-4 game in which he scored twice.
- Hart's 13 multi-hit performances ties for a team-best with John Jennings.
Eyes on Jennings
- Senior co-captain John Jennings has been named to the 2016 Johnny Bench Award watch list, as announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. There are 74 nominees on the watch list across Division I, with the award ultimately given to the top catcher at the D-I level.
- The Newton, Mass. native, currently batting .326, had a base hit in both games of Saturday's doubleheader and scored a run in the nightcap.
Getting It Done In The Classroom
- Eight members of the UMass baseball team were recognized in March for their academic success with placement on the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll. In total, UMass as an institution had 150 student-athletes earn a spot on the list.
- Casey Aubin, Hunter Carey, Logan Greene, Mike Hart, Cooper Mrowka, Alec Norton, Mitchell Page, and Ben Panunzio garnered the laurels for UMass baseball.
Set in `Stone'
- The winningest head coach in team history, UMass skipper Mike Stone is in his 29th season directing the Minutemen baseball program. In that timeframe, Stone has helped UMass to 678 victories, recording eight Atlantic 10 regular season championships, along with two A-10 postseason titles and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. Nearly 40 of his former players have gone on to play professional baseball.
Cole Joins UMass Staff
- Massachusetts native and former southpaw Nate Cole is in his first season with UMass as an assistant coach. Cole comes to Amherst after spending eight years at Southern Connecticut State in the same capacity. His expertise in pitching helped develop SCSU into one of the top Division II staffs in the country.
- During his playing days at Central Connecticut State, Cole helped the Blue Devils to two Northeast Conference championships and two appearances in two NCAA Regionals (2004, 2007). He graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.
Eight is Great
- Throughout the 2016 season, the Minutemen will play in eight different states: South Carolina, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, and Virginia.
On Deck
- UMass picks up conference play once again this weekend, traveling to Kingston, R.I. for a three-game series with Rhode Island. First pitch in the series opener is slated for 3 p.m. on Friday, May 13.
Follow UMass Baseball on Social Media
- Fans can follow the Minutemen on Twitter @UMassBaseball for up to the minute updates, photos, and other news around the team. In addition, fans who use Facebook can visit Facebook.com/UMassBaseball for the latest with the squad.
