University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, April 8
Amherst, Mass.
1 P.M.
University of Massachusetts
6-16, 2-3
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VCU
18-13, 7-1
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VCU
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Massachusetts
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Baseball Edged by VCU, 2-0
April 08, 2017 | Baseball
AMHERST, Mass. – Despite a stellar pitching performance from freshman left-hander Brooks Knapek, University of Massachusetts baseball was edged by VCU, 2-0 on Saturday at Earl Lorden Field in game two of Atlantic 10 series between the squads. The loss leaves the Minutemen at 6-16 overall, 2-3 in conference play, while the Rams move to 18-13 on the year and 7-1 in the A-10.
VCU pushed across its first run in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead. Haiden Lamb reached with a one-out bunt single and scored from second on an RBI single to left by Alex Gransback with two away.
The Rams later added an insurance run with two out in the ninth. Zac Ching singled through the left side and scored on a throwing error when the next batter, Lamb, reached with a single to right.
Sophomore Ryan Lever broke up VCU starter Brooks Vial's no-hit bid by legging out an infield single in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Brett Evangelista had the Minutemen's only other hit in the contest, a pinch hit single up the middle in the seventh.
Knapek went a season-long 8.2 innings in his start and allowed just one earned run on seven hits, all singles, but took the loss (2-2) for UMass with two walks and two strikeouts. Vial collected the win (4-3) for the Rams, limiting the Minutemen to two hits over 6.2 shutout innings with four walks and five strikeouts. Sam Donko retired all six batters he faced to pick up his seventh save of the season for VCU.
The teams will wrap up the weekend series tomorrow, April 9, with game three set for a 12 p.m. start at Earl Lorden Field.
For continued coverage of UMass baseball, follow the team on Twitter @UMassBaseball and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassBaseball.
VCU pushed across its first run in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead. Haiden Lamb reached with a one-out bunt single and scored from second on an RBI single to left by Alex Gransback with two away.
The Rams later added an insurance run with two out in the ninth. Zac Ching singled through the left side and scored on a throwing error when the next batter, Lamb, reached with a single to right.
Sophomore Ryan Lever broke up VCU starter Brooks Vial's no-hit bid by legging out an infield single in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Brett Evangelista had the Minutemen's only other hit in the contest, a pinch hit single up the middle in the seventh.
Knapek went a season-long 8.2 innings in his start and allowed just one earned run on seven hits, all singles, but took the loss (2-2) for UMass with two walks and two strikeouts. Vial collected the win (4-3) for the Rams, limiting the Minutemen to two hits over 6.2 shutout innings with four walks and five strikeouts. Sam Donko retired all six batters he faced to pick up his seventh save of the season for VCU.
The teams will wrap up the weekend series tomorrow, April 9, with game three set for a 12 p.m. start at Earl Lorden Field.
For continued coverage of UMass baseball, follow the team on Twitter @UMassBaseball and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: VIAL, Brooks (4-3)
L: Knapek, Brooks (2-2)
S: DONKO, Sam (7)
Batting:
RBI: GRANSBACK, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CHING, Zac 1 ; LAMB, Haiden 1
SB: LAMB, Haiden 1
HBP: FARRAR, Logan 1 ; ISQUIRDO, Dylan 1
Batting:
SH: Kessinger, Nolan 1
Base Running:
SB: Lever, Ryan 1
CS: Evangelista, Brett 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
ph/lf
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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