University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, May 10
Kingston, R.I.
3 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
at
Rhode Island
Photo by: Ben Barnhart - UMass Athletics
Final Regular Season Road Series Takes Minutemen to Rhode Island
May 08, 2019 | Baseball
Pivotal three-game set begins Friday at 3 p.m.
| University of Massachusetts Baseball Game Notes | |
| Games 40-42 Date | Time |
Massachusetts (17-22, 8-9 Atlantic 10) at Rhode Island (19-25, 10-8 Atlantic 10) Friday, May 10 | 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11 | 1 p.m. Sunday, May 12 | Noon |
| Location | Kingston, R.I. (Bill Beck Field) | Directions |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 107-75 |
| Live Video | TBA |
| Live Statistics | Presto Sports Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| @UMassBaseball | @UMassAthletics | @CoachReynolds25 | |
| UMass Baseball | UMass Athletics | |
| Season Statistics | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
The First Pitch
University of Massachusetts baseball plays its final road contests of the regular season on Fri.-Sun., May 10-12, traveling to Rhode Island for a three-game Atlantic 10 series with the Rams. First pitch in the series is scheduled for 3 p.m., 1 p.m. and noon at URI's Bill Beck Field in Kingston, Rhode Island.
Follow UMass Baseball
Follow UMass baseball on Twitter (@UMassBaseball), Instagram (UMassBaseball) and Facebook (UMass Baseball) all season long for the latest news and updates around the team. Fans can also follow head coach Matt Reynolds on Twitter @CoachReynolds25.
Recap in a Minute
UMass split an abbreviated two-game series with Atlantic 10 foe and second-place Davidson last weekend, with both pitchers' duels decided by a 2-1 score. Senior Justin Lasko turned in a complete game two-hitter in the opening contest with seven strikeouts and sophomore Luke Oliphant scored both runs in the win, before Davidson countered with a victory in the nightcap.
Springing Forward: April Rewind
After a difficult stretch in March, UMass responded with an 11-6 record in April including a 6-3 mark in Atlantic 10 play and the program's seventh Beanpot Championship. All four weekend series went the way of the Minutemen and five of the squad's six setbacks in the month came by three or fewer runs.
Record Watch
Senior right-hander Justin Lasko had a record-setting outing on Sat., May 4 in the first game of a doubleheader vs. Davidson. Lasko, who already holds the UMass career record for innings pitched (296.1), made his 46th start as a Minuteman to surpass Jared Freni (2007-10) for the top program mark.
In that same start, Lasko took sole possession of first place in program history in career strikeouts (237). Lasko entered the game needing four strikeouts to tie Carl Boteze (1965-67) and Jeff Reardon (1974-77) for the previous record (234) and it was fitting that Lasko set the strikeout record with several of Boteze's former teammates in attendance at Earl Lorden Field as UMass recognized its 1969 College World Series team that day.
Academic and Athletic Ace
Lasko was honored on Wed., April 24 as UMass' 2019 Spring Male Scholar-Athlete. He studies sport management where he has totaled a 3.59 GPA and a four-year ERA of 3.46. The right-hander and three-year Friday night starter has dealt two complete game shutouts this season–going the distance at Navy (March 2) and vs. George Washington (April 12).
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.
New England Flavor
Those 13 walks have contributed to UMass' team on base percentage of .374 which ranks second in New England as well as fifth in the Atlantic 10. Amongst New England's Division I programs, only Bryant (.407) sits above the Minutemen while VCU (.397) is atop the A-10.
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. Aubin is the only known active Division I pitcher with multiple wins in a Major League ballpark.
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 transitioned to first base as well as the cleanup spot in all 38 games this year. Videtto, a native of Kingston, Massachusetts, checks in with a .298 batting average, second on the team, in part on the strength of nine doubles, three homers and 28 RBI. Both his average and on-base percentage (.438) sit behind only redshirt freshman Collin Shapiro for the team lead.
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 27 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 .312 with seven doubles, a home run and 21 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
UMass plays its final four games of the regular season within the home confines of Earl Lorden Field, a stretch that begins Tues., May 14 with a 2 p.m. game against New England rival Fairfield.
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