University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, February 23
New Britain, Conn.
1 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
1-0
2
at
1
Central Connecticut
0-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| Central Connecticut | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Oliphant’s Two-Run Single Lifts Minutemen Over CCSU, 2-1
February 23, 2019 | Baseball
Massachusetts rallies in eighth inning to take season opener
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – University of Massachusetts baseball faced a 1-0 deficit in the top of the eighth inning, but sophomore Luke Oliphant's two-run single gave the Minutemen the lead for the balance of the contest as UMass defeated Central Connecticut, 2-1, on Saturday in both teams' season openers at the CCSU Baseball Field. The teams will conclude their weekend series with a 1 p.m. contest on Sun., Feb. 24, in a game that was previously scheduled for noon.
Oliphant finished 2-for-4 on the day and both redshirt freshman Collin Shapiro and redshirt sophomore Connor Smith contributed 2-for-3 performances in the win.
Senior Justin Lasko received the starting nod on the mound for Massachusetts, tossing 5.2 innings of one-run ball on two-hits and three walks. Lasko finished with a career-high 11 strikeouts on the day and earned a no-decision.
CCSU was first to the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. After a leadoff walk and steal of second base by Sam Loda, Loda moved to third on a ground out. Jay Devito then sent a grounder to the left side of the infield but Loda beat out the throw to the plate, giving the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead.
Lasko surrendered just one hit from that point on and shut down 13 of the final 15 batters he faced.
That score remained until Oliphant's two-RBI base hit in the eighth. Smith and senior Alec Norton opened the frame with singles before moving into scoring position on a groundout by redshirt freshman Kane Medina. Oliphant then singled to score Norton and freshman Luke Gutos, who replaced Smith as a pinch runner earlier in the sequence.
Central Connecticut threatened with the tying run at second base both in the eighth and ninth, but senior Casey Aubin confidently worked out of each inning for his fifth career save. He capped the afternoon with a swinging strikeout of James Dolaghan to seal the outcome.
Making his collegiate debut, freshman right-hander Brad Collins picked up the win (1-0) in relief of Lasko, logging two strikeouts and a 1-2-3 seventh inning before Aubin took over midway through the eighth.
In total, four Minutemen made their collegiate debut, including Collins Gutos, Medina and Shapiro.
For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.
Oliphant finished 2-for-4 on the day and both redshirt freshman Collin Shapiro and redshirt sophomore Connor Smith contributed 2-for-3 performances in the win.
Senior Justin Lasko received the starting nod on the mound for Massachusetts, tossing 5.2 innings of one-run ball on two-hits and three walks. Lasko finished with a career-high 11 strikeouts on the day and earned a no-decision.
CCSU was first to the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. After a leadoff walk and steal of second base by Sam Loda, Loda moved to third on a ground out. Jay Devito then sent a grounder to the left side of the infield but Loda beat out the throw to the plate, giving the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead.
Lasko surrendered just one hit from that point on and shut down 13 of the final 15 batters he faced.
That score remained until Oliphant's two-RBI base hit in the eighth. Smith and senior Alec Norton opened the frame with singles before moving into scoring position on a groundout by redshirt freshman Kane Medina. Oliphant then singled to score Norton and freshman Luke Gutos, who replaced Smith as a pinch runner earlier in the sequence.
Central Connecticut threatened with the tying run at second base both in the eighth and ninth, but senior Casey Aubin confidently worked out of each inning for his fifth career save. He capped the afternoon with a swinging strikeout of James Dolaghan to seal the outcome.
Making his collegiate debut, freshman right-hander Brad Collins picked up the win (1-0) in relief of Lasko, logging two strikeouts and a 1-2-3 seventh inning before Aubin took over midway through the eighth.
In total, four Minutemen made their collegiate debut, including Collins Gutos, Medina and Shapiro.
For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Collins, Brad (1-0)
L: GALLAGHER, J (0-1)
S: Aubin, Casey (1)
Batting:
RBI: Oliphant, Luke 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gutos, Luke 1 ; Norton, Alec 1
SB: Oliphant, Luke 1
CS: Shapiro, Collin 1
Batting:
RBI: DEVITO, J 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LODA, S 1
SB: LODA, S 1 ; KANIOS, C 1 ; BERTOCHI, M 1
HBP: KANIOS, C 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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INF
/ Baseball
RHP
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INF
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3B
/ BaseballOF
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