University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, April 19
Fairfield, Conn.
3 P.M.
University of Massachusetts
6-22
10
at
8
Sacred Heart
16-18
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Massachusetts
0
1
0
0
3
1
1
0
4
10
15
5
Sacred Heart
3
0
0
1
0
1
0
3
0
8
13
2
Ninth Inning Rally Lifts Baseball Past Sacred Heart, 10-8
April 19, 2023 | Baseball
Zaetta went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run to lead the team in the Wednesday victory.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – A ninth inning rally for the University of Massachusetts baseball team aided the Minutemen to a 10-8 victory over Sacred Heart University on Wednesday afternoon at Veteran's Park.
UMass improved to 6-22 overall, while Sacred Heart dropped to 16-18 overall on the season.
Zack Zaetta led UMass, going 4-for-5 on the day, and added two RBI, a run and a stolen base. Five Minutemen tallied two hits apiece, including one double each from Will MacLean and Sam Hill. Along with Zaetta, MacLean registered two RBI, while Steve Luttazi had a team-high two runs. Nolan Tichy had one hit and was one of four Minutemen with a RBI.
Sacred Heart grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Pioneers opened the frame with a solo home run, before a two-run single.
UMass got on the board in the second, making it a 3-1 contest. Luttazi took his place on first after being walked, before Carter Hanson singled to shortstop. With two outs, Justin Blumenthal singled through the left side pushing Luttazi across the plate.
The Pioneers scored another unearned run in the fourth, extending their lead to 4-1. The Minutemen brought the game to a 4-4 draw in the fifth. Zaetta saw four balls to claim first, before advancing to second on a single to center field from Kevin Skagerlind. A wild pitch from Sacred Heart put Zaetta and Skagerlind in scoring position at third and second, respectively. MacLean doubled down the right field line, allowing Zaetta and Skagerlind to score to get UMass back within one at 4-3. MacLean tied up the contest, touching the plate on a RBI single from Tichy.
Massachusetts claimed its first lead of the afternoon in the top of the sixth at 5-4. Blumenthal got the bats going in the inning with a single to right center field, before stealing second. Zaetta contributed a RBI with a two-out single, scoring Blumenthal. SHU knotted up the game, 5-5, in the bottom half of frame scoring an unearned run on a wild pitch.
A double to left center field from Hill put the Minutemen back on top, 6-5, as Luttazi came around to score. Sacred Heart quickly answered back in the eighth as the Pioneers took an 8-6 lead on a two-run homer and a RBI single.
The Minutemen began a rally in the final frame with a single through the left side from Hanson, before Hill walked. Blumenthal reached first on a fielding error by SHU, loading the bases for UMass. Another error for the Pioneers allowed Michael Toth to reach first and brought Hanson and Hill home to bring the game to an 8-8 draw. Zaetta stepped up to the plate and singled to left center field, scoring Ryan Coleman to take back the lead, 9-8. Skagerlind singled up the middle, knocking in Toth extend Massachusetts lead, 10-8.
UMass' defense held off Sacred Heart in the bottom of the ninth to earn the 10-8 victory.
Renn Lints (1-1) earned the win for Massachusetts, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk in one complete inning. Max LeBlanc received the first save of his collegiate career, walking only one batter and striking out two in one inning of work.
Massachusetts travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23, for a three-game A-10 series against Saint Joseph's. Friday's contest begins at 3 p.m., before a 2 p.m. start time on Saturday. The series finale is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Both Friday and Sunday's games will be streamed on ESPN+, at Smithson Field.
UMass improved to 6-22 overall, while Sacred Heart dropped to 16-18 overall on the season.
Zack Zaetta led UMass, going 4-for-5 on the day, and added two RBI, a run and a stolen base. Five Minutemen tallied two hits apiece, including one double each from Will MacLean and Sam Hill. Along with Zaetta, MacLean registered two RBI, while Steve Luttazi had a team-high two runs. Nolan Tichy had one hit and was one of four Minutemen with a RBI.
Sacred Heart grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Pioneers opened the frame with a solo home run, before a two-run single.
UMass got on the board in the second, making it a 3-1 contest. Luttazi took his place on first after being walked, before Carter Hanson singled to shortstop. With two outs, Justin Blumenthal singled through the left side pushing Luttazi across the plate.
The Pioneers scored another unearned run in the fourth, extending their lead to 4-1. The Minutemen brought the game to a 4-4 draw in the fifth. Zaetta saw four balls to claim first, before advancing to second on a single to center field from Kevin Skagerlind. A wild pitch from Sacred Heart put Zaetta and Skagerlind in scoring position at third and second, respectively. MacLean doubled down the right field line, allowing Zaetta and Skagerlind to score to get UMass back within one at 4-3. MacLean tied up the contest, touching the plate on a RBI single from Tichy.
Massachusetts claimed its first lead of the afternoon in the top of the sixth at 5-4. Blumenthal got the bats going in the inning with a single to right center field, before stealing second. Zaetta contributed a RBI with a two-out single, scoring Blumenthal. SHU knotted up the game, 5-5, in the bottom half of frame scoring an unearned run on a wild pitch.
A double to left center field from Hill put the Minutemen back on top, 6-5, as Luttazi came around to score. Sacred Heart quickly answered back in the eighth as the Pioneers took an 8-6 lead on a two-run homer and a RBI single.
The Minutemen began a rally in the final frame with a single through the left side from Hanson, before Hill walked. Blumenthal reached first on a fielding error by SHU, loading the bases for UMass. Another error for the Pioneers allowed Michael Toth to reach first and brought Hanson and Hill home to bring the game to an 8-8 draw. Zaetta stepped up to the plate and singled to left center field, scoring Ryan Coleman to take back the lead, 9-8. Skagerlind singled up the middle, knocking in Toth extend Massachusetts lead, 10-8.
UMass' defense held off Sacred Heart in the bottom of the ninth to earn the 10-8 victory.
Renn Lints (1-1) earned the win for Massachusetts, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk in one complete inning. Max LeBlanc received the first save of his collegiate career, walking only one batter and striking out two in one inning of work.
Massachusetts travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23, for a three-game A-10 series against Saint Joseph's. Friday's contest begins at 3 p.m., before a 2 p.m. start time on Saturday. The series finale is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Both Friday and Sunday's games will be streamed on ESPN+, at Smithson Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lints, Renn (1-1)
L: T. Briggs (1-2)
S: LeBlanc, Max (1)
Batting:
2B: MacLean, Will 1 ; Hill, Sam 1
RBI: Zaetta, Zack 2 ; Skagerlind, Kevin 1 ; MacLean, Will 2 ; Tichy, Nolan 1 ; Hill, Sam 1 ; Blumenthal, Justin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zaetta, Zack 1 ; Skagerlind, Kevin 1 ; MacLean, Will 1 ; Luttazi, Steve 2 ; Hanson, Carter 1 ; Hill, Sam 1 ; Blumenthal, Justin 1 ; Coleman, Ryan 1 ; Toth, Michael 1
SB: Zaetta, Zack 1 ; Blumenthal, Justin 1
CS: Zaetta, Zack 1
Batting:
2B: R. Donnelly 1 ; J. Cilea 1
HR: Z. Kovalchik 1 ; S. Mongelli 1
RBI: Z. Kovalchik 1 ; S. Mongelli 2 ; T. McGuire 1 ; J. Skarad 2
SH: J. Greene 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Z. Kovalchik 2 ; S. Mongelli 1 ; R. Donnelly 1 ; T. McGuire 1 ; D. D'Amore 1 ; J. Cilea 1 ; J. Greene 1
SB: D. D'Amore 1 ; M. Simonelli 1
CS: R. Donnelly 1 ; M. Simonelli 1
HBP: S. Mongelli 1
PO: S. Mongelli 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
4
RBI
2
cf/rf
AB
6
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
6
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
rf/lf
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
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