University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
2-4
Maine
6-8
Baseball Bests Maine, 10-6 for Second Straight Win
March 12, 2017 | Baseball
A two-run homer by sophomore Cooper Mrowka in the top of the first put UMass out in front, but Maine responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the second. The Black Bears opened the inning with four consecutive hits, including a two-run double by Brandon Vicens.
The Minutemen promptly tied the score at 4-4 in the third as Mrowka picked up his third and fourth RBI of the day, driving in senior Jon Avallone and junior Brett Evangelista with a double down the left field line. However, the Black Bears regained the lead, 5-4 in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by Tyler Schwanz.
Maine pushed their advantage to 6-4 in the fifth when Hernen Sardinas scored on an attempted double steal with Jeremy Pena caught in a rundown.
UMass responded by putting up runs in each of the next four innings, including a three-run sixth. A bases loaded walk to Eddy Hart brought the Minutemen within one. Evangelista followed with a bunt single to knot things up at 6-6, while sophomore Ryan Lever brought in classmate Matt Hosman with a sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run.
The Minutemen added their eighth and ninth runs via a wild pitch and an error in the seventh and eighth, respectively, before Avallone capped the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the ninth.
With the potential tying runs aboard in the bottom of the seventh, senior Dylan Morris made a diving catch in center to help preserve UMass' 8-6 advantage.
Senior Mike Geannelis earned the win (1-1) for the Minutemen and went five innings in his start, allowing six runs, five earned, on 11 hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Freshman Christian Rosati worked the final two innings of the contest and struck out three to collect his first collegiate save.
Mrowka finished with a career-high four RBI to lead UMass' offense and went 2-for-5 at the plate with a home run and a double. Evangelista was 2-for-4 on the day, scored twice and drove in one.
UMass will be back in action on Tuesday, March 14, when the team will take on North Dakota State in Winter Haven, Florida.
For continued coverage of UMass baseball, follow the team on Twitter @UMassBaseball and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Geannelis, Mike (1-1)
L: Johnson, Connor (2-2)
S: Rosati, Christian (1)
Batting:
2B: Mrowka, Cooper 1
HR: Avallone, Jon 1 ; Mrowka, Cooper 1
RBI: Avallone, Jon 1 ; Evangelista, Brett 1 ; Lever, Ryan 1 ; Mrowka, Cooper 4 ; Hart, Eddy 1
SH: Evangelista, Brett 1 ; Lever, Ryan 1
SF: Lever, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Avallone, Jon 3 ; Evangelista, Brett 2 ; Mrowka, Cooper 1 ; Greene, Logan 2 ; Kessinger, Nolan 1 ; Hosman, Matt 1
SB: Evangelista, Brett 1
HBP: Avallone, Jon 1 ; Evangelista, Brett 1
Batting:
2B: Casals, Danny 1 ; Sardinas, Hernen 2 ; Vicens, Brandon 1
HR: Schawnz, Tyler 1
RBI: Schawnz, Tyler 1 ; Vicens, Brandon 2 ; Della Fera, Lou 1
SH: Casals, Danny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schawnz, Tyler 1 ; Sardinas, Hernen 2 ; Pena, Jeremy 1 ; Vicens, Brandon 1 ; Doody, Kevin 1
CS: Casals, Danny 1 ; Bec, Christopher 1 ; Doody, Kevin 1
PO: Pena, Jeremy 1
