Big Start Powers Minutemen to 16-9 Win Over Quinnipiac

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts baseball jumped out to a 14-1 lead in the fourth inning and would not look back as the Minutemen claimed a 16-9 win over Quinnipiac Wednesday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. It was the 10th triumph for the Maroon and White in the last 14 games and fourth in the last six within the squad's home confines.

Ten different Minutemen recorded a hit and nine contributed at least one RBI in the contest. Junior Eddy Hart went 2-for-3 with three RBI and as many runs scored and sophomore Luke Oliphant had a 3-for-5 performance out of the nine-hole, scoring three times. Senior Ryan Lever (2-for-5) also drove in three and crossed the plate once.

Freshman Daniel Livnat (1-2) picked up his first collegiate win after a 6.1-inning start, during which Livnat fanned four and scattered eight hits along with two walks. He was responsible for six Quinnipiac runs, though he allowed only three through the first six innings.

After a sacrifice fly initially gave the Bobcats a 1-0 first inning lead, Massachusetts answered with 14 consecutive tallies. Oliphant sparked the outpouring in the second with a bunt single that eventually saw redshirt freshman Kane Medina and senior Alec Norton score on a throwing error. Oliphant moved to third on the play and came home soon after on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, a bases-loaded walk plated redshirt freshman Collin Shapiro and Norton was hit with the bases loaded, crossing Hart and giving the Minutemen a 5-1 lead.

UMass would add on three more runs in the third, a six-spot in the fourth and one more in the last of the sixth when Shapiro grounded into a fielder's choice. In the bottom of the eighth, freshman Michael Rounds came to bat pinch hitting for Medina and clubbed a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence for his first home run as a Minuteman.

On the day, UMass drew a season-high 13, two short of tying a single-game program record.

Quinnipiac's Derek Goldrick took the loss (0-3), working one-plus inning before Massachusetts tagged the starter for five runs.

The Minutemen resume Atlantic 10 play with a key conference series in Philadelphia at La Salle from Fri.-Sun., April 26-28.

For the latest news and updates around UMass baseball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UMassBaseball.

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Team Stats

Luke Oliphant

Eddy Hart

Ryan Lever

Luke Gutos

Players Mentioned

Eddy Hart

Ryan Lever

Daniel Livnat

Kane Medina

Alec Norton

Luke Oliphant

Michael Rounds

Collin Shapiro

Players Mentioned

Eddy Hart

Ryan Lever

Daniel Livnat

Kane Medina

Alec Norton

Luke Oliphant

Michael Rounds

Collin Shapiro

University of Massachusets Athletics