University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, April 21
Amherst, Mass.
1 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
11-18, 4-10
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12-25, 3-8
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Photo by: Thom Kendall - UMass Athletics
Three-Run Eighth Puts La Salle Past Minutemen, 5-4
April 21, 2018 | Baseball
Valiant UMass rally comes up short in ninth inning as Minutemen strand tying run at third
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts baseball mounted a comeback effort in the ninth inning facing a three-run deficit, but the rally fell just short as La Salle escaped with a 5-4 win over the Minutemen on Saturday at Earl Lorden Field.
Nolan Kessinger had a 2-for-4 day, scoring a run and knocking one in by way of a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the ninth. Justen Voghel went 2-for-3 and Eddy Hart laced the first triple of his career. Additionally, Alec Norton reached base safely for the 12th consecutive game and Ryan Lever has now recorded a hit in seven straight contests.
UMass struck in the bottom of the first when Hart's three-bagger with two outs scored Kessinger, who made it aboard on an infield single and was balked to second base. The Minutemen would maintain that 1-0 lead until the visitors posted a two-spot in the fifth. With one away, Austin Constantini doubled, knocking in Jack Cucinotta and Yan Carlo Rivera.
In the last of the sixth the Maroon and White evened things at two-apiece. After a base hit and another balk saw Lever reach scoring position, a beautiful jump gave him a steal of third. The ensuing payoff pitch to Alec Norton found the dirt and skipped past Explorers catcher Ryan Guckin, giving Lever the opportunity to dart home with the tying run.
La Salle sent seven men to the plate in the eighth, using four hits to plate three and break out of the 2-2 tie. Brian Dudeck opened the scoring with a base hit to cross Tommy Toal, then Guckin laced a single that brought home Dudeck. Brian Tagoe capped the three-spot when his single plated pinch runner Peyton Sorrels.
After the Explorers were retired in order in the ninth, UMass used a Norton single and two walks to load the bases, including the latter on four pitches to Cooper Mrowka. Norton scored when Kessinger was hit by a 1-0 pitch. Luke Oliphant, who earlier had pinch run for Voghel, moved to third before scoring on a wild pitch to cut the La Salle lead to 5-4. Unfortunately for the Minutemen, a soft liner to first base ended the opportunity with the tying run in Mrowka at third base.
La Salle's Mike Anthony (3-1) earned the win after 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, holding UMass to one hit in that time. Kevin Hassett (0-6) took the loss for the Minutemen and Matt Holt eked out the save for the Explorers.
Starter Sean Harney went 6.2 innings for the Minutemen, during which he was charged only with two runs on six hits. He walked one and tied his single-game career high with six strikeouts.
Sunday's rubber game is set for a noon first pitch at Earl Lorden Field.
For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.
Nolan Kessinger had a 2-for-4 day, scoring a run and knocking one in by way of a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the ninth. Justen Voghel went 2-for-3 and Eddy Hart laced the first triple of his career. Additionally, Alec Norton reached base safely for the 12th consecutive game and Ryan Lever has now recorded a hit in seven straight contests.
UMass struck in the bottom of the first when Hart's three-bagger with two outs scored Kessinger, who made it aboard on an infield single and was balked to second base. The Minutemen would maintain that 1-0 lead until the visitors posted a two-spot in the fifth. With one away, Austin Constantini doubled, knocking in Jack Cucinotta and Yan Carlo Rivera.
In the last of the sixth the Maroon and White evened things at two-apiece. After a base hit and another balk saw Lever reach scoring position, a beautiful jump gave him a steal of third. The ensuing payoff pitch to Alec Norton found the dirt and skipped past Explorers catcher Ryan Guckin, giving Lever the opportunity to dart home with the tying run.
La Salle sent seven men to the plate in the eighth, using four hits to plate three and break out of the 2-2 tie. Brian Dudeck opened the scoring with a base hit to cross Tommy Toal, then Guckin laced a single that brought home Dudeck. Brian Tagoe capped the three-spot when his single plated pinch runner Peyton Sorrels.
After the Explorers were retired in order in the ninth, UMass used a Norton single and two walks to load the bases, including the latter on four pitches to Cooper Mrowka. Norton scored when Kessinger was hit by a 1-0 pitch. Luke Oliphant, who earlier had pinch run for Voghel, moved to third before scoring on a wild pitch to cut the La Salle lead to 5-4. Unfortunately for the Minutemen, a soft liner to first base ended the opportunity with the tying run in Mrowka at third base.
La Salle's Mike Anthony (3-1) earned the win after 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, holding UMass to one hit in that time. Kevin Hassett (0-6) took the loss for the Minutemen and Matt Holt eked out the save for the Explorers.
Starter Sean Harney went 6.2 innings for the Minutemen, during which he was charged only with two runs on six hits. He walked one and tied his single-game career high with six strikeouts.
Sunday's rubber game is set for a noon first pitch at Earl Lorden Field.
For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: ANTHONY, Mike (3-1)
L: Hassett, Kevin (0-6)
S: HOLT, Matt (1)
Batting:
2B: CONSTANTINI, Austin 1
3B: CUCINOTTA, Jack 1
RBI: CONSTANTINI, Austin 2 ; DUDECK, Brian 1 ; GUCKIN, Ryan 1 ; TAGOE, Brian 1
Base Running:
RUNS: TOAL, Tommy 1 ; DUDECK, Brian 1 ; SORRELS, Peyton 1 ; CUCINOTTA, Jack 1 ; RIVERA, Yan Carlo 1
SB: TAGOE, Brian 1
HBP: TOAL, Tommy 1 ; CUCINOTTA, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Greene, Logan 1
3B: Hart, Eddy 1
RBI: Kessinger, Nolan 1 ; Hart, Eddy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kessinger, Nolan 1 ; Lever, Ryan 1 ; Norton, Alec 1 ; Oliphant, Luke 1
SB: Lever, Ryan 1
HBP: Kessinger, Nolan 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ BaseballSS/2B
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
3B
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF
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