UMass Continues A-10 Play in Philadelphia at La Salle

University of Massachusetts Baseball Game Notes
Games 34-36 Date \| Time	Massachusetts (14-19, 5-7 Atlantic 10) at La Salle (21-21, 2-10 Atlantic 10) Saturday, April 27 \| 11 a.m. (doubleheader) Sunday, April 28 \| Noon
Location	Philadelphia, Pa. (Hank DeVincent Field) \| Directions
Series History	Massachusetts leads, 28-18
Live Video	Sunday: ESPN+
Live Statistics	SIDEARM Stats
Twitter	@UMassBaseball \| @UMassAthletics \| @CoachReynolds25
Instagram	UMass Baseball \| UMass Athletics
Season Statistics	Massachusetts \| La Salle

The First Pitch
After a bye last weekend, University of Massachusetts baseball picks up Atlantic 10 play once again with a three-game series at conference foe La Salle. With changes to the schedule following forecasted inclement weather, the three-game series will now begin with a doubleheader on Sat., April 27 at 11 a.m. and conclude on Sun., April 28 with a single contest at noon. All three matchups will be played at Hank DeVincent Field in Philadelphia.

UMass heads into the key series having won 10 of its last 14 games and four of its last six in the Atlantic 10.

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Recap in a Minute
Ten different Minutemen recorded a hit and nine contributed at least one RBI in a 16-9 win over Quinnipiac on Wed., April 24. 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.

Ace on the Mound...and in the Classroom
Senior right-hander Justin Lasko was honored on Wed., April 24 as UMass' 2019 Spring Male Scholar-Athlete. Lasko studies sport management where he has totaled a 3.59 GPA and a four-year ERA of 3.46. He is one of only two pitchers in the country this year to pitch two complete game shutouts, alongside West Virginia's Alek Manoah. The right-hander has been UMass' Friday night starter for the past three seasons and his next start will tie former Minuteman Jared Freni (2007-10, 45) for the career program record.

Pass Go, Collect $200
UMass drew a season-high 13 walks in the win over Quinnipiac on Wed., April 24. All-time, that figure was tied for third-most in program history for a single game with the squad earning 14 and 15 free passes during two different games in the 2018 season.

Spilling the Beans: Beanpot Leftovers
Senior Casey Aubin earned the win in the Beanpot Championship vs. Harvard on Wed., April 17, picking up the decision for the second straight game that UMass has played at Fenway Park. Aubin previously picked up the victory in relief, then as a sophomore, in the 2017 Consolation Game against Northeastern. The victory over Harvard gave the Minutemen their seventh Beanpot Championship in program history and first since 2012.

As a team, UMass' 18 hits in the title contest not only tied a season-high but also a Beanpot program record. Senior Ryan Lever's six at bats matched Mike Athas' 2003 program-best in the tournament, as did redshirt sophomore Connor Smith's three walks (Nik Campero, 2012).

Videtto at First
After a brief two-way stint in the 2018 season, redshirt sophomore Anthony Videtto has held down first base as well as the cleanup spot in all 33 games this year. Videtto, a native of Kingston, Massachusetts, checks in with a .328 batting average, leading the team, in part on the strength of nine doubles, two homers and 24 RBI. His on-base percentage of .463 also is a team-best.

Nine is Fine
UMass has had every member of its starting lineup, one through nine, record at least one hit on three different occasions this season. Most recently, the Maroon and White accomplished the feat at Fenway Park in the Beanpot Championship vs. Harvard (April 17), while also putting on a hit parade in the Saint Louis rubber game victory (April 7) as well as a win in the UT Rio Grande Valley finale (March 10).

Shapiro's Streak
Redshirt freshman Collin Shapiro reached base safely in 26 consecutive games to open the 2019 season. That is the longest streak since at least 1996 by a Minuteman beginning their first year of competition.

Shapiro, currently hitting .310 with five doubles, a home run and 19 RBI, was tabbed Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Week on April 8 after a .667 week that saw the Minutemen go 3-1. That stretch included a series win against Saint Louis that saw the Exeter, New Hampshire native finish a triple short of the cycle in the opener.

Lasko Snags A-10 Weekly Award
For his efforts at Navy on Sat., March 2, Lasko was named the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week. The right-hander scattered five hits and struck out eight Midshipmen, three short of a career-high and lowering his ERA to 0.61. His outing capped a terrific doubleheader on the part of the UMass pitching staff, as Minuteman arms worked a total of 20 innings without surrendering a run.

On Deck
The Minutemen are back at Earl Lorden Field on Tues., April 30 as Hartford treks North to Amherst. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Casey Aubin

Eddy Hart

Justin Lasko

Ryan Lever

Daniel Livnat

Luke Oliphant

Collin Shapiro

Connor Smith

Anthony Videtto

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