Hanson Leads Baseball Over Saint Joseph’s 8-5

AMHERST, Mass. – Junior Carter Hanson helped lead the University of Massachusetts team to an 8-5 victory over Saint Joseph's University on Friday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. Hanson went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run while driving in a career-high five runs and scoring two on the day.

UMass improved to 16-22 overall on the year, including 6-7 in the A-10 with the win, while Saint Joseph's moved to 17-20 overall and 6-7 in the league.

Kevin Skagerlind, Nolan Tichy and Zack Zaetta followed Hanson with one hit each. Mike Gervasi scored two runs of his own alongside Hanson, while Skagerlind, Tichy and Zaetta had one RBI apiece.

Saint Joseph's took a 1-0 lead after the two teams remained scoreless through three. UMass knotted up the contest at 1-1 in the fifth inning. Hanson led off with a single up the middle, before Zaetta hit a two-out single of his own to score Hanson.

The Hawks grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly. The Minutemen reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the frame, 4-3. Burgess and Gervasi reached base after being walked. Hanson stepped up and cranked a three-run homer over the left field wall, marking his seventh of the season.

SJU put another run on the board to tie it up at 4-4 in the top of the seventh, but Massachusetts pulled ahead 7-4 in the bottom half of the inning. Jack Peters led off being walked, before a fielder's choice put Travisano on base. Gervasi loaded up the bases after being hit by a pitch. Hanson singled down the right field line, driving in Peters and Travisano. Tichy followed with a single to shortstop, as Gervasi crossed the plate to extend the lead.

The Hawks added a run on solo homer to make it a 7-5 game in the top of the eighth, but the Minutemen took back the run with an RBI single from Skagerlind, as Zaetta touched the dish. UMass retired the side in the ninth to hold on to an 8-5 triumph.

Leif Bigelow (3-2) picked up the win for UMass after relieving Renn Lints, tossing 2.2 innings and allowing only one run on one hit, while striking out two. Domenic Picone (4-2) had the loss for SJU, pitching six complete innings with five runs, three hits, four walks and eight strikeouts.

Massachusetts and Saint Joseph's ready for game two of the series on Saturday, April 27 at 1 p.m. at the Earl.

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Team Stats

Carter Hanson

Kevin Skagerlind

Nolan Tichy

Zack Zaetta

Players Mentioned

Leif Bigelow

Mike Gervasi

Carter Hanson

Renn Lints

Jack Peters

Kevin Skagerlind

Nolan Tichy

Zack Zaetta

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics