University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
4-6
Bucknell
7-8
Baseball Nipped by Bucknell, 11-9
March 17, 2017 | Baseball
Bucknell began the contest with a six-run top of the first, tallying six singles in the frame and sending 11 batters to the plate.
UMass halved its deficit in the bottom of the fourth, closing the gap to 6-3. Senior Mike Geannelis walked and scored on an error, sophomore Cooper Mrowka came home on a double by freshman Nolan Kessinger and Kessinger crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Minutemen followed up by plating five in the fifth to pull in front, 8-6. A pair of bases loaded walks brought UMass to within 6-5 of Bucknell and a two-out RBI single from senior Dylan Morris tied the score at six. Senior Matt Bare then gave UMass the lead with a two-run single up the middle.
In the top of the sixth, though, the Bison regained the lead, 9-8. John Paul Bell sent a two-RBI triple down the right field line and scored on a sacrifice fly from Danny Rafferty.
UMass tied the score once more in the bottom of the seventh. Mrowka doubled to right center and came in on an RBI groundout by Morris. Mike Geannelis nearly put the Minutemen on top, but was robbed of an RBI single with a diving grab by Tyler Wincig at second to end the inning.
Bucknell went on to plate two runs in the ninth to secure the win. Wincig and Evan Klugerman opened the inning with back-to-back walks and later scored on a single up the middle by Brett Smith and a double to left off the bat of Rafferty.
Junior Kevin Hassett took the loss (1-1) in relief for the Minutemen, allowing two runs on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts over 1.1 innings. Mike Stevens logged the win (2-0) for the Bison, after tossing two hitless innings out of the bullpen with two walks and one strikeout.
Kessinger paced UMass with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a double and RBI and a run scored. Mrowka finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored three runs.
The Minutemen will close out their series with Bucknell with the rubber matchup between the squads set for tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.
For continued coverage of UMass baseball, follow the team on Twitter @UMassBaseball and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stephens, Mike (2-0)
L: Hassett, Kevin (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Rafferty, Danny 1
3B: Bell, JohnPaul 1
RBI: Smith, Brett 2 ; Bell, JohnPaul 2 ; Rafferty, Danny 2 ; Clark, Sam 1 ; Johnson, Luke 1 ; Wincig, Tyler 1 ; Baumann, Alex 1 ; Scales, Chuckie 1
SF: Rafferty, Danny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Brett 1 ; Bell, JohnPaul 2 ; Rafferty, Danny 1 ; Clark, Sam 1 ; Johnson, Luke 1 ; Rawlings, Keifer 1 ; Wincig, Tyler 2 ; Klugerman, Evan 1 ; Scales, Chuckie 1
HBP: Scales, Chuckie 1
Batting:
2B: Mrowka, Cooper 1 ; Kessinger, Nolan 1
RBI: Geannelis, Mike 1 ; Mrowka, Cooper 1 ; Kessinger, Nolan 1 ; Morris, Dylan 1 ; Greene, Logan 1 ; Bare, Matt 2
SH: Avallone, Jon 1 ; Kessinger, Nolan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Avallone, Jon 1 ; Evangelista, Brett 1 ; Lever, Ryan 1 ; Geannelis, Mike 2 ; Mrowka, Cooper 3 ; Kessinger, Nolan 1
HBP: Mrowka, Cooper 1
PO: Lever, Ryan 1 ; Bare, Matt 1
