University of Massachusets Athletics
Sunday, May 7
Amherst, Mass.
12 P.M.
University of Massachusetts
11-29, 0
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Photo by: THOM KENDALL FOR UMASS ATHLETICS
Baseball Drops Rubber Match To Rhode Island, 10-9
May 07, 2023 | Baseball
Pearsons clubs first career grand slam in Sunday’s loss.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts baseball dropped a 10-9 contest to the University of Rhode Island in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. Junior Chris Pearsons recorded the first grand slam of his career in the loss.
The Minutemen move to 11-29 overall and 4-14 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, while the Rams improve to 20-24 overall and 10-8 in the league.
Nolan Tichy had two hits to lead the team, while six Minutemen tallied one apiece, including Pearsons with his first home run of the season. Tichy and Pearsons totaled a team high four RBI each, marking a career-best for Pearsons, while Carter Hanson added one. Will MacLean and Tichy led UMass in runs with two, as five Minutemen also crossed the plate. Both MacLean and Tichy recorded a double each.
Rhode Island grabbed the lead early, plating five runs in the opening frame. URI added to its lead in the third on a two-run double to make it a 7-0 contest. A solo homer in the top of the fourth extended the Rams lead to 8-0.
UMass got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth. MacLean walked with one out, before Tichy hit his ninth long ball of the year over the left field fence to score two, making it an 8-2 game.
After a scoreless fifth inning for both teams, UMass; defense held off URI with a three up, three down, top of the sixth. The Minutemen got the bats going in the bottom of the frame to take the lead over Rhode Island. Kevin Skagerlind led off with a single to right field before advancing to second on a passed ball. MacLean then doubled to right center field, placing him and Tichy in scoring position. Tichy followed with a double of his own down the left field line, driving in Skagerlind and MacLean, cutting the deficit in half at 8-4. Steve Luttazi grounded out that allowed Tichy to move over to third. Hanson knocked in Tichy on a single up the middle to make a three-run contest. Justin Blumenthal singled to right field with Hanson on second, and a wild pitch helped Hanson and Blumenthal to third and second, respectively. Sam Hill then loaded up the bases after being walked. Pearsons crushed a shot over the left field hedges for a grand slam to give the Minutemen the go-ahead run at 9-8.
The two teams headed into the ninth with the UMass remaining ahead 9-8, but a two-run homer for the Rams gave them the 10-9 edge. The Minutemen were unable to rally in their half of the final inning, as Rhode Island picked up the series win.
Jackson Harrigan (0-4) took the loss for UMass, going 2.2 innings, and allowing two runs, two hits and strike out a season high four batters. Zach Fernandez (2-1) picked up the win for URI, pitching 3.2 innings with no runs, no hits and dealing four strikeouts.
Massachusetts prepares for two midweek matchups, traveling to in-state rival UMass Lowell in Lowell, Mass., on Tuesday, May 9, before hosting Stonehill on Wednesday, May 10 at Earl Lorden. Both contests begin at 4 p.m. and Wednesday's game will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Minutemen move to 11-29 overall and 4-14 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, while the Rams improve to 20-24 overall and 10-8 in the league.
Nolan Tichy had two hits to lead the team, while six Minutemen tallied one apiece, including Pearsons with his first home run of the season. Tichy and Pearsons totaled a team high four RBI each, marking a career-best for Pearsons, while Carter Hanson added one. Will MacLean and Tichy led UMass in runs with two, as five Minutemen also crossed the plate. Both MacLean and Tichy recorded a double each.
Rhode Island grabbed the lead early, plating five runs in the opening frame. URI added to its lead in the third on a two-run double to make it a 7-0 contest. A solo homer in the top of the fourth extended the Rams lead to 8-0.
UMass got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth. MacLean walked with one out, before Tichy hit his ninth long ball of the year over the left field fence to score two, making it an 8-2 game.
After a scoreless fifth inning for both teams, UMass; defense held off URI with a three up, three down, top of the sixth. The Minutemen got the bats going in the bottom of the frame to take the lead over Rhode Island. Kevin Skagerlind led off with a single to right field before advancing to second on a passed ball. MacLean then doubled to right center field, placing him and Tichy in scoring position. Tichy followed with a double of his own down the left field line, driving in Skagerlind and MacLean, cutting the deficit in half at 8-4. Steve Luttazi grounded out that allowed Tichy to move over to third. Hanson knocked in Tichy on a single up the middle to make a three-run contest. Justin Blumenthal singled to right field with Hanson on second, and a wild pitch helped Hanson and Blumenthal to third and second, respectively. Sam Hill then loaded up the bases after being walked. Pearsons crushed a shot over the left field hedges for a grand slam to give the Minutemen the go-ahead run at 9-8.
The two teams headed into the ninth with the UMass remaining ahead 9-8, but a two-run homer for the Rams gave them the 10-9 edge. The Minutemen were unable to rally in their half of the final inning, as Rhode Island picked up the series win.
Jackson Harrigan (0-4) took the loss for UMass, going 2.2 innings, and allowing two runs, two hits and strike out a season high four batters. Zach Fernandez (2-1) picked up the win for URI, pitching 3.2 innings with no runs, no hits and dealing four strikeouts.
Massachusetts prepares for two midweek matchups, traveling to in-state rival UMass Lowell in Lowell, Mass., on Tuesday, May 9, before hosting Stonehill on Wednesday, May 10 at Earl Lorden. Both contests begin at 4 p.m. and Wednesday's game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Zach Fernandez (2-1)
L: Harrigan, Jackson (0-4)
Batting:
2B: Eric Genther 1 ; Rob Butler 1
3B: Addison Kopack 1
HR: Michael Anderson 1 ; Billy Butler 2
RBI: Michael Anderson 1 ; Billy Butler 4 ; Addison Kopack 2 ; Rob Butler 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Michael Anderson 3 ; Billy Butler 2 ; Anthony DePino 1 ; Eric Genther 2 ; Addison Kopack 2
HBP: Anthony DePino 1 ; Eric Genther 1
Batting:
2B: MacLean, Will 1 ; Tichy, Nolan 1
HR: Tichy, Nolan 1 ; Pearsons, Chris 1
RBI: Tichy, Nolan 4 ; Hanson, Carter 1 ; Pearsons, Chris 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Skagerlind, Kevin 1 ; MacLean, Will 2 ; Tichy, Nolan 2 ; Hanson, Carter 1 ; Blumenthal, Justin 1 ; Hill, Sam 1 ; Pearsons, Chris 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
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