University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, April 13
Amherst, Mass.
3 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
10-14, 3-7
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Rhode Island
8-25, 1-9
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Massachusetts
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Lever’s Walk-Off Single Puts UMass Baseball Past Rhode Island, 4-3
April 13, 2018 | Baseball
Teams will play doubleheader at 11 a.m. on Sat., April 14 in advance of forecasted inclement weather
AMHERST, Mass. – Ryan Lever lined a two-out payoff pitch up the middle to bring Luke Oliphant in from third base and give University of Massachusetts baseball a 4-3 walk-off win over Rhode Island in the opening game of the teams' three-game series on Friday at Earl Lorden Field. The teams will play a doubleheader on Sat., April 14 beginning at 11 a.m. in a change made to accommodate inclement weather expected later in the weekend.
Lever's heroics in the bottom of the ninth were set up by a leadoff single by Logan Greene, after which Oliphant entered as a pinch runner. After stealing second base and moving to third on a wild pitch, he crossed home plate on Lever's base hit and joined his teammates as the Minutemen poured out of the dugout and raced toward Lever in celebration.
Not to be lost in the shuffle was Eddy Hart's 3-for-4 day as Hart finished a triple short of the cycle, with two runs scored and two RBIs. He extended his reached base streak to 12 games and has now hit a home run in three of UMass' last four conference games. Nolan Kessinger (2-for-4) and Justen Voghel (2-for-3) also contributed multi-hit efforts.
After a scoreless first three frames, Rhody claimed a 1-0 advantage in the top of the fourth when Sonny Ulliana's sacrifice fly allowed Kevin Heiss to score from third. Massachusetts countered in the last of the inning when Hart slammed a two-run homer to left, his third of the campaign.
The Rams then answered with a two-run sixth. Heiss worked a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a groundout and scored when Brett McManus poked a single through the left side of the infield. McManus later stole second and came around on a Xavier Vargas double into the right field corner, giving URI a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the inning the Maroon and White evened things at three-apiece. Hart reached on a one-out double, his team-leading seventh of the season, then Alec Norton smacked a two-bagger of his own to score Hart.
Hart gave UMass a chance to go ahead in the eighth, but was stranded at second base. He led off the inning and singled on the first pitch he saw, moving to second base when a pickoff attempt led to an interference call and awarded Hart second base. Despite being put in scoring position with nobody out, two strikeouts and a foul out ended the threat.
Carter Knapek (2-1) picked up the win out of the bullpen after tossing a three-up, three-down ninth inning with a strikeout. Justin Lasko went eight innings in the start for UMass, ultimately receiving a no-decision. Lasko fanned four while walking three and allowing three runs on seven hits.
Tyler Barss (0-4) took the loss for URI after a two-inning appearance, on the hook for Lever's game-winning RBI single despite four strikeouts.
McManus went 3-for-4 in the defeat and Vargas had two doubles.
With the win, UMass improves to 10-14 on the season and 3-7 against Atlantic 10 opponents. Rhody is now 8-25 and 1-9 in the league. The outcome also ended an eight-game slide for the Minutemen and was the club's first over URI since 2016.
For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.
Lever's heroics in the bottom of the ninth were set up by a leadoff single by Logan Greene, after which Oliphant entered as a pinch runner. After stealing second base and moving to third on a wild pitch, he crossed home plate on Lever's base hit and joined his teammates as the Minutemen poured out of the dugout and raced toward Lever in celebration.
Not to be lost in the shuffle was Eddy Hart's 3-for-4 day as Hart finished a triple short of the cycle, with two runs scored and two RBIs. He extended his reached base streak to 12 games and has now hit a home run in three of UMass' last four conference games. Nolan Kessinger (2-for-4) and Justen Voghel (2-for-3) also contributed multi-hit efforts.
After a scoreless first three frames, Rhody claimed a 1-0 advantage in the top of the fourth when Sonny Ulliana's sacrifice fly allowed Kevin Heiss to score from third. Massachusetts countered in the last of the inning when Hart slammed a two-run homer to left, his third of the campaign.
The Rams then answered with a two-run sixth. Heiss worked a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a groundout and scored when Brett McManus poked a single through the left side of the infield. McManus later stole second and came around on a Xavier Vargas double into the right field corner, giving URI a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the inning the Maroon and White evened things at three-apiece. Hart reached on a one-out double, his team-leading seventh of the season, then Alec Norton smacked a two-bagger of his own to score Hart.
Hart gave UMass a chance to go ahead in the eighth, but was stranded at second base. He led off the inning and singled on the first pitch he saw, moving to second base when a pickoff attempt led to an interference call and awarded Hart second base. Despite being put in scoring position with nobody out, two strikeouts and a foul out ended the threat.
Carter Knapek (2-1) picked up the win out of the bullpen after tossing a three-up, three-down ninth inning with a strikeout. Justin Lasko went eight innings in the start for UMass, ultimately receiving a no-decision. Lasko fanned four while walking three and allowing three runs on seven hits.
Tyler Barss (0-4) took the loss for URI after a two-inning appearance, on the hook for Lever's game-winning RBI single despite four strikeouts.
McManus went 3-for-4 in the defeat and Vargas had two doubles.
With the win, UMass improves to 10-14 on the season and 3-7 against Atlantic 10 opponents. Rhody is now 8-25 and 1-9 in the league. The outcome also ended an eight-game slide for the Minutemen and was the club's first over URI since 2016.
For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Knapek, Carter (2-1)
L: BARSS, Tyler (0-4)
Batting:
2B: VARGAS, Xavier 2
RBI: McMANUS, Brett 1 ; ULLIANA, Sonny 1 ; VARGAS, Xavier 1
SF: ULLIANA, Sonny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HEISS, Kevin 2 ; McMANUS, Brett 1
SB: McMANUS, Brett 1
Batting:
2B: Hart, Eddy 1 ; Norton, Alec 1 ; Voghel, Justen 1
HR: Hart, Eddy 1
RBI: Lever, Ryan 1 ; Hart, Eddy 2 ; Norton, Alec 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kessinger, Nolan 1 ; Hart, Eddy 2 ; Oliphant, Luke 1
SB: Oliphant, Luke 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
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AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballSS/2B
/ Baseball
3B
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF
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UMass Baseball vs. URI | Broadcast Highlights | Doubleheader Game 1 | 3.28.25
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