University of Massachusets Athletics
Thursday, May 18
Amherst, Mass.
12 P.M.
University of Massachusetts
15-30, 8-14
7
vs
6
Davidson
25-23, 11-11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Davidson
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
6
10
3
Massachusetts
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
4
X
7
12
1
Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Davidson
May 18, 2017 | Baseball
AMHERST, Mass. – Combining for 11 home runs between the squads over two games, University of Massachusetts baseball and Davidson split a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. The Minutemen (15-31, 8-15 A-10) collected a 7-6 win in game one before the Wildcats (26-23, 12-11 A-10) evened the series by taking game two, 7-5.
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Davidson opened the day with back-to-back solo shots from Cam Johnson and Will Robertson to lead 2-0 in game one.
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UMass took one of the runs back in the second after sophomore Cooper Mrowka began the frame with a double to right center and went to third on an error before crossing the plate on an RBI groundout by freshman Nolan Kessinger.
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The Minutemen scored again the following inning to tie things up at 2-2. Senior Jon Avallone reached on a fielder's choice and later came in on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Ryan Lever. UMass then climbed in front, 3-2 in the fifth courtesy of a solo home run from Mrowka.
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The Wildcats leveled the score once more in the sixth on a solo homer from Eric Jones, but the Minutemen went on to plate four runs in the eighth for a 7-3 advantage. Mrowka reached on an error, followed by walks to senior Dylan Morris and Kessinger, which set up a two-run double by junior Andrew Noonan. Freshman Eddy Hart capped the UMass scoring with an RBI single.
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Davidson attempted to rally in the ninth, cutting its deficit to one with a two-run homer and another that came in on an error, but freshman Christian Rosati recorded the final two outs of the contest to earn his third save of the year. Freshman Carter Knapek picked up the win (1-1) in relief after sophomore Justin Lasko went seven innings in his start and allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Durin O'Linger took the loss (6-3) for the Wildcats, surrendering five runs, two earned, on 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 7.1 innings.
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In game two, the Minutemen built a 5-0 lead with a three-run homer by sophomore Alec Norton in the second, an RBI single by junior Brett Evangelista in the fourth and Mrowka's second home run of the day in the sixth.
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However, Davidson posted seven runs on six hits in the ninth, including four home runs to overtake UMass and complete the comeback.
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Senior Ryan Venditti suffered the loss (0-1) in relief of starter Kevin Hassett who went eight innings. ZJ Zabinski retired both batters he faced for the win (1-1) and Westin Whitmire pitched a scoreless ninth en route to his 10th save of the year for the Wildcats.
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The teams will close out the series tomorrow, May 19, with the 2017 regular season finale beginning at 12 p.m. on Earl Lorden Field. UMass will honor its Class of 2017 and retiring head coach Mike Stone prior to the contest with a ceremony beginning at 11:30 a.m.
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For continued coverage of UMass baseball, follow the team on Twitter @UMassBaseball and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassBaseball.
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Davidson opened the day with back-to-back solo shots from Cam Johnson and Will Robertson to lead 2-0 in game one.
Â
UMass took one of the runs back in the second after sophomore Cooper Mrowka began the frame with a double to right center and went to third on an error before crossing the plate on an RBI groundout by freshman Nolan Kessinger.
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The Minutemen scored again the following inning to tie things up at 2-2. Senior Jon Avallone reached on a fielder's choice and later came in on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Ryan Lever. UMass then climbed in front, 3-2 in the fifth courtesy of a solo home run from Mrowka.
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The Wildcats leveled the score once more in the sixth on a solo homer from Eric Jones, but the Minutemen went on to plate four runs in the eighth for a 7-3 advantage. Mrowka reached on an error, followed by walks to senior Dylan Morris and Kessinger, which set up a two-run double by junior Andrew Noonan. Freshman Eddy Hart capped the UMass scoring with an RBI single.
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Davidson attempted to rally in the ninth, cutting its deficit to one with a two-run homer and another that came in on an error, but freshman Christian Rosati recorded the final two outs of the contest to earn his third save of the year. Freshman Carter Knapek picked up the win (1-1) in relief after sophomore Justin Lasko went seven innings in his start and allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Durin O'Linger took the loss (6-3) for the Wildcats, surrendering five runs, two earned, on 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 7.1 innings.
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In game two, the Minutemen built a 5-0 lead with a three-run homer by sophomore Alec Norton in the second, an RBI single by junior Brett Evangelista in the fourth and Mrowka's second home run of the day in the sixth.
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However, Davidson posted seven runs on six hits in the ninth, including four home runs to overtake UMass and complete the comeback.
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Senior Ryan Venditti suffered the loss (0-1) in relief of starter Kevin Hassett who went eight innings. ZJ Zabinski retired both batters he faced for the win (1-1) and Westin Whitmire pitched a scoreless ninth en route to his 10th save of the year for the Wildcats.
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The teams will close out the series tomorrow, May 19, with the 2017 regular season finale beginning at 12 p.m. on Earl Lorden Field. UMass will honor its Class of 2017 and retiring head coach Mike Stone prior to the contest with a ceremony beginning at 11:30 a.m.
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For continued coverage of UMass baseball, follow the team on Twitter @UMassBaseball and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassBaseball.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Knapek, Carter (1-1)
L: O'LINGER, Durin (6-3)
S: Rosati, Christian (3)
Batting:
2B: ROBERTSON, Will 1
HR: JOHNSON, Cam 2 ; ROBERTSON, Will 1 ; JONES, Eric 1
RBI: JOHNSON, Cam 3 ; ROBERTSON, Will 1 ; JONES, Eric 1
SH: AGARD, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: JOHNSON, Cam 2 ; ROBERTSON, Will 1 ; MARSHALL, Cameron 1 ; JONES, Eric 1 ; CENTRACCHIO, Brett 1
Batting:
2B: Mrowka, Cooper 1 ; Noonan, Andrew 1
HR: Mrowka, Cooper 1
RBI: Lever, Ryan 1 ; Mrowka, Cooper 1 ; Kessinger, Nolan 1 ; Noonan, Andrew 2 ; Hart, Eddy 1
SF: Lever, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Avallone, Jon 1 ; Mrowka, Cooper 3 ; Morris, Dylan 1 ; Kessinger, Nolan 1 ; Noonan, Andrew 1
SB: Robinson, Dylan 1
CS: Avallone, Jon 1
PO: Avallone, Jon 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
3B
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OF
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RHP
/ BaseballOF/LHP
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RHP
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RHP
/ Baseball
SS/2B
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball3B/SS/1B
/ Baseball
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/ Baseball
2B/3B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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