University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
6-5, 0
Richmond
13-8, 0
Richmond Takes Series Opener From Baseball, 17-5
March 23, 2018 | Baseball
Spiders use big seventh inning to cement victory
Nine different Minutemen registered hits and Massachusetts' five runs came from five different players. Cooper Mrowka had a pair of RBIs while Ryan Lever, Nolan Kessinger and Thomas Pipolo drove in a run apiece.
The Spiders struck first when D.J. Lee sent a sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the second inning, scoring Anthony Forte. Richmond would then extend its lead to 5-0 with a four-run fourth inning.
Massachusetts would answer in the top of the fifth with a four spot of its own. An RBI single by Lever scored Marcus Fry before Kessinger worked a bases-loaded walk to narrow the deficit to 5-2. Mrowka then stepped to the dish and sent the first pitch through the left side, allowing Lever and Keith Linnane to come home.
Richmond would add one more in the last of the fifth and two in the sixth inning, before ultimately cementing the victory with a seven-run seventh and a pair in the following frame.
In the top of the eighth UMass plated its final run when Pipolo earned his first RBI as a Minuteman via a sac fly in a pinch hit situation.
Richmond's Jacob Lamb (3-0) earned the win in relief. Justin Lasko (1-1) received the loss for UMass, going five innings and being charged with six runs (three earned) on nine hits and three walks, striking out four in the process.
UMass falls to 6-5 after Friday's game and 0-1 in Atlantic 10 play, while Richmond is now 13-8 (1-0 Atlantic 10).
The sides will play the middle game of their three-game series on Sat., March 24 with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. at Pitt Field.
For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LAMB, Jacob (3-0)
L: Lasko, Justin (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Kessinger, Nolan 1 ; Evangelista, Brett 1
RBI: Lever, Ryan 1 ; Kessinger, Nolan 1 ; Mrowka, Cooper 2 ; Pipolo, Thomas 1
SF: Pipolo, Thomas 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lever, Ryan 1 ; Voghel, Justen 1 ; Evangelista, Brett 1 ; Fry, Marcus 1 ; Linnane, Keith 1
HBP: Smith, Connor 1
Batting:
2B: SCHMIDT, K. 1 ; PLANTIER, T. 1 ; FORTE, A. 1 ; SCHULEFAND 1
RBI: CAPRA, Vinny 1 ; BRUMBAUGH, D 3 ; BRUHL, Sage 1 ; PLANTIER, T. 3 ; FORTE, A. 2 ; SCHULEFAND 1 ; LEE, D.J. 3
SF: FORTE, A. 1 ; LEE, D.J. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: CAPRA, Vinny 2 ; BRUMBAUGH, D 1 ; ADAMS, Kyle 3 ; SCHMIDT, K. 1 ; BRUHL, Sage 3 ; COOK, Justin 1 ; FORTE, A. 2 ; SCHULEFAND 2 ; LEE, D.J. 2
SB: CAPRA, Vinny 1 ; SCHULEFAND 2 ; LEE, D.J. 2
CS: BRUMBAUGH, D 1
HBP: ADAMS, Kyle 1 ; BRUHL, Sage 1 ; SCHULEFAND 2
