University of Massachusets Athletics
Sunday, April 22
Amherst, Mass.
Noon
University of Massachusetts
11-19, 4-11
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La Salle
13-25, 4-8
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La Salle
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Massachusetts
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Photo by: Thom Kendall - UMass Athletics
Baseball Drops Series Finale to La Salle, 4-3
April 22, 2018 | Baseball
Explorers push three across in ninth inning before UMass rally comes up short
AMHERST, Mass. – La Salle scored three times in the top of the ninth inning to break a 1-1 tie and UMass rallied in its final at bat, but the Minutemen stranded the tying run at second base in a 4-3 setback on Sunday at Earl Lorden Field. Nolan Kessinger went 3-for-5 and Eddy Hart went 2-for-4 with a double.
The Explorers were first to the scoreboard, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. After loading the bases with nobody out, Chase Arnold singled to left center field to score Tommy Toal. UMass starter Brooks Knapek proceeded to successfully work out of the jam without any further damage, immediately inducing an infield fly and two of his seven strikeouts, a career high for a single game.
UMass trailed until the bottom of the seventh. Keith Linnane worked a leadoff walk, moving into scoring position on Kessinger's base hit up the middle. Advancing to third on Logan Greene's sacrifice bunt, Linnane scored when Ryan Lever laced a 1-0 offering off of pitcher Sebastian Martinez before Austin Constantini fielded the ball at shortstop and fired to first for the RBI groundout.
La Salle's three-run ninth opened up when Jack Cucinotta stole third base. Cucinotta sprinted home when an errant throw skipped into left field, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. Constantini would later send a two-run homer into the right field trees to push the margin to 4-1.
For the second consecutive day the Minutemen would mount a comeback in their final at bat. Cooper Mrowka began the frame with a walk, then Andrew Noonan pushed a single through the right side in a pinch hit situation. Kessinger loaded the bases with a single to center, then Mrowka scored when Logan Greene grounded into a fielder's choice and beat out an attempt at a double play.
Hart blooped a single into left center field that plated pinch runner Luke Oliphant and narrowed the deficit to 4-3, but that would be as close at UMass would get.
La Salle used six different pitchers with Connor Hinchliffe (1-0) pulling out the win in relief. Constantini picked up his fourth save after moving to the mound from shortstop in the last of the ninth. The loss went to Ben Shields (0-2).
The rubber game loss drops the Minutemen to 11-19 on the season and 4-11 in the Atlantic 10. La Salle is now 13-25 and 4-8 against league opponents.
Sunday's game ends an eight-game homestand for the Minutemen, who now turn their focus to a Wed., April 25 game at Quinnipiac. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. in Hamden, Connecticut.
For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.
The Explorers were first to the scoreboard, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. After loading the bases with nobody out, Chase Arnold singled to left center field to score Tommy Toal. UMass starter Brooks Knapek proceeded to successfully work out of the jam without any further damage, immediately inducing an infield fly and two of his seven strikeouts, a career high for a single game.
UMass trailed until the bottom of the seventh. Keith Linnane worked a leadoff walk, moving into scoring position on Kessinger's base hit up the middle. Advancing to third on Logan Greene's sacrifice bunt, Linnane scored when Ryan Lever laced a 1-0 offering off of pitcher Sebastian Martinez before Austin Constantini fielded the ball at shortstop and fired to first for the RBI groundout.
La Salle's three-run ninth opened up when Jack Cucinotta stole third base. Cucinotta sprinted home when an errant throw skipped into left field, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. Constantini would later send a two-run homer into the right field trees to push the margin to 4-1.
For the second consecutive day the Minutemen would mount a comeback in their final at bat. Cooper Mrowka began the frame with a walk, then Andrew Noonan pushed a single through the right side in a pinch hit situation. Kessinger loaded the bases with a single to center, then Mrowka scored when Logan Greene grounded into a fielder's choice and beat out an attempt at a double play.
Hart blooped a single into left center field that plated pinch runner Luke Oliphant and narrowed the deficit to 4-3, but that would be as close at UMass would get.
La Salle used six different pitchers with Connor Hinchliffe (1-0) pulling out the win in relief. Constantini picked up his fourth save after moving to the mound from shortstop in the last of the ninth. The loss went to Ben Shields (0-2).
The rubber game loss drops the Minutemen to 11-19 on the season and 4-11 in the Atlantic 10. La Salle is now 13-25 and 4-8 against league opponents.
Sunday's game ends an eight-game homestand for the Minutemen, who now turn their focus to a Wed., April 25 game at Quinnipiac. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. in Hamden, Connecticut.
For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: HINCHLIFFE, Connor (1-0)
L: Shields, Ben (0-2)
S: CONSTANTINI, Austin (4)
Batting:
2B: FASO, Ben 1
3B: RIVERA, Yan Carlo 1
HR: CONSTANTINI, Austin 1
RBI: CONSTANTINI, Austin 2 ; ARNOLD, Chase 1
SH: GARCIA, Manny 1 ; RIVERA, Yan Carlo 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CONSTANTINI, Austin 1 ; TOAL, Tommy 1 ; CUCINOTTA, Jack 1 ; RIVERA, Yan Carlo 1
SB: FASO, Ben 1 ; CUCINOTTA, Jack 1
CS: TAGOE, Brian 1
HBP: TOAL, Tommy 1
Batting:
2B: Hart, Eddy 1
RBI: Greene, Logan 1 ; Lever, Ryan 1 ; Hart, Eddy 1
SH: Greene, Logan 1 ; Evangelista, Brett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mrowka, Cooper 1 ; Linnane, Keith 1 ; Oliphant, Luke 1
CS: Evangelista, Brett 1
HBP: Hart, Eddy 1 ; Evangelista, Brett 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
SS/2B
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
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