University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, March 30
Amherst, Mass.
3 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
vs
St. Bonaventure
Atlantic 10 Play Resumes With Three-Game Series Against St. Bonaventure
March 29, 2018 | Baseball
UMass hosts home opener Friday at 3 p.m. before Saturday and Sunday contests with Bonnies
| University of Massachusetts Baseball Game Notes | |
| Games 15-17 | Massachusetts (8-6 overall, 1-2 Atlantic 10) vs. St. Bonaventure (4-13 overall, 0-3 Atlantic 10) |
| Date | Time | Fri., March 30-Sun., April 1 | 3 p.m./1 p.m./Noon |
| Location | Weather | Amherst, Mass. (Earl Lorden Field) | Driving Directions Friday: 55 Degrees, AM Showers, Chance of Rain: 70% Saturday: 57 Degrees, Sunny, Chance of Rain: 0% Sunday: 46 Degrees, Partly Cloudy, Chance of Rain: 20% |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 37-27 Last Meeting: St. Bonaventure 7, Massachusetts 3 | April 10, 2016 |
| Live Video | Friday: Atlantic 10 Digital Network |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm Stats |
| @UMassBaseball | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Baseball | UMass Athletics | |
| Probable Starters | Massachusetts RHP Justin Lasko (1-1, 2.21 ERA), LHP Brooks Knapek (2-2, 4.50 ERA), RHP Kevin Hassett (0-2, 10.91 ERA) St. Bonaventure RHP Brandon Schlimm (0-3, 6.19 ERA), RHP Braydon Nelson (1-1, 3.12 ERA), RHP Ben Contento (1-1, 5.30 ERA) |
| Season Statistics | Massachusetts | St. Bonaventure |
Batting Practice
University of Massachusetts baseball picks up Atlantic 10 play on Fri., March 30 as St. Bonaventure treks to the Pioneer Valley for a three-game series. Friday's game, which is also UMass' 2018 home opener, will see first pitch at 3 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday's contests beginning at 1 p.m. and noon, respectively.
Admission to all UMass home games at Earl Lorden Field is free of charge and parking is available in the adjacent Mullins Center lot. Fans unable to attend the series can follow along with live stats all weekend long, while Friday's game will be streamed in high definition on the Atlantic 10 Digital Network.
Recap in a Minute
In part fueled by a six-run sixth inning, UMass eked out an 8-7 road victory on Tues., March 27 at America East foe UAlbany. Nolan Kessinger went 2-for-3 with a bases-loaded triple and Ryan Lever scored twice, while on the mound Sean Harney picked up the first win of his collegiate career.
In the bottom of the ninth UMass' Carter Knapek took over needing three outs to earn the save. With two away, the tying run at first base and a 1-2 count on Ryan Hernandez, Travis Collins broke toward second base before Knapek set up Ryan Lever to catch Collins in a rundown and apply the game-ending tag.
Scouting St. Bonaventure
St. Bonaventure has yet to play a true home game and was most recently swept at the hands of George Mason last weekend. Prior to that, the Bonnies took the middle tilt of a three-game series at North Carolina A&T, with each matchup being decided by one run.
Mike Magnanti leads the squad at the plate with a .344 average in 17 games while Ryan MacCarrick follows at .297 with a seven-game hitting streak. Magnanti also has .474 on base percentage to his name which is a team-best and sits second around the Atlantic 10. Friday's probable starter, Brandon Schlimm, went eight innings in a win over the Minutemen in 2016, while Sunday's arm, Ben Contento, faced one batter out of the bullpen in the same series.
The All-Time Series With St. Bonaventure
Massachusetts did not meet the Bonnies in 2017, taking a one-year recess after grabbing one of three when the sides met the previous season. In that series-opener on April 8, 2016, Brett Evangelista went 2-for-4 the plate with a solo home run as well as an RBI double. That same game saw Kevin Hassett earn the win, while former Minuteman Ryan Moloney received a no-decision despite five strikeouts over his seven-inning start.
UMass in the Atlantic 10 Ranks
Entering Friday's game, the Minutemen find themselves at or near the top of the Atlantic 10 in multiple statistical categories. Massachusetts boasts the league's second-best figure in doubles per game (2) and fourth-best offensive production (5.7 runs per game).
Individually, Ryan Lever's .350 batting average is fourth in the league, while the junior's 1.5 hits per game sits third. Nolan Kessinger (1.08 RBIs per game) and Eddy Hart (1.0 runs per game) each head into the weekend second among the A-10 in their respective categories.
You're Invited To The Hit Parade
Lever has hit safely and thus reached base in each of Massachusetts' last 13 games. He has six multi-hit games to his name this season including two three-hit performances. The Leominster, Massachusetts native has started at shortstop in all 14 games this year, spending time in both the second (11) and third (3) spots in the batting order.
Call Them The Comeback Kids
In a sweep of Bucknell from March 12-14, Massachusetts was forced to come from behind in each of the three matchups. The last time the Minutemen eliminated consecutive deficits en route to a three-game series sweep was on May 8 and May 9, 2001, when UMass claimed both doubleheader tilts against Saint Joseph's (13-8 and 9-5) before posting an 11-9 triumph to close the weekend.
That year the Maroon and White won the Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship after going 16-6 in the league, ultimately finishing the campaign with an overall record of 27-19.
Not To Be Confused With Brothers Osborne
The Minuteman pitching staff features one set of twin brothers in sophomores Brooks Knapek and Carter Knapek. The duo threw back-to-back in a win over Central Connecticut on Sun., March 11, with Brooks earning the win after four no-hit innings of relief, during which he struck out four and surrendered just one walk. Carter then entered for the ninth and posted his first career save. That capped a strong day on the mound for the Minutemen as Justin Lasko started on the hill, striking out five over his four innings of work.
Welcome Back, Coach
A former UMass infielder and captain, head coach Matt Reynolds returns to the Pioneer Valley after three years (2014-17) guiding Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland and seven seasons as an assistant coach at Navy (2007-14).
Prior to Navy, Reynolds served as a graduate assistant under Mike Stone at UMass for three seasons (2005-07). He played his final two collegiate seasons in Amherst after transferring from the University of Maine. He earned Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team honors in 2003 and was named the Minutemen's Most Valuable Player the following year.
All Across The Map
Throughout the 2018 campaign, the Minutemen will play at least one game in seven different states: Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, Missouri and Pennsylvania.
On Deck
A pair of in-state rivals sit ahead for the Minutemen as the squad opens the Baseball Beanpot on Tues., April 3 with a 3 p.m. game against Northeastern from Earl Lorden Field. The following afternoon UMass will visit Boston College at 4 p.m.
Follow UMass Baseball
Follow UMass baseball on Twitter (@UMassBaseball), Instagram (UMassBaseball) and Facebook (UMass Baseball) for the latest news and updates around the team.
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