University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, February 20
Columbia, Md. (Blandair Park)
2 P.M.
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Mount St. Mary's
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Photo by: THOM KENDALL FOR UMASS ATHLETICS
Massachusetts Baseball Opens Season With 6-4 Victory Over Mount St. Mary’s
February 20, 2026 | Baseball
Wingenroth earns first career win, as Niedringhaus receives first collegiate save.
COLUMBIA, Md. - University of Massachusetts baseball earned a 6-4 victory in its season opener over Mount St. Mary's at Blandair Park on Friday afternoon. It marked the first career win with Brandon Shileikis and Max Weir at the helm.
Three Minutemen had two hits apiece, including Ryan Kolben and Jack Beverly with a double each. Reece McCarthy had two hits with two RBI and a run. Gavin O'Brien tallied two runs, while adding a hit of his own.
After three scoreless innings, UMass took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth. O'Brien led off the frame with a single, before stealing second. With two outs, McCarthy hit a single, driving in O'Brien from second to score.
Mount St. Mary's pushed a run across the plate to knot the game up at 1-1, as Evan Meier hit a solo home run to left field in the sixth.
In the top of the eighth, the Minutemen reclaimed the lead, 4-1. With two outs, Will Briggs hit a single with Randen May entering the game as a pinch runner. May stole second with McCarthy at the dish, before McCarthy singled to bring home May, making it a 2-1 contest. Beverly followed with a double, placing McCarthy at third. An error by the third baseman then led to McCarthy crossing the plate for a 3-1 lead. Beverly went home from third on a single from Tirado to take the 4-1 lead.
The top of the ninth saw O'Brien score from third on Ty Fox's sacrifice fly to give Massachusetts a 5-1 lead. With the bases loaded, Sam Hill walked, allowing Kolben to cross home plate from third and make it a 6-1 game.
The Mountaineers were able to score three runs in the top of the ninth, including a 2-run single, but the Jack Niedringhaus struck out the final batter to hang on to give UMass the 6-4 victory.
Brandon Wingenroth recorded his first collegiate win after tossing for two complete innings, allowing no runs, one hit, one walk and striking out a career-best three. Jack Niedringhaus earned his first career save, going 1.2 innings with three runs, four hits, a walk and two strikeouts.
Callen Powers earned the start on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings and giving up one run on three hits, two walks and striking out three.
For Mount St. Mary's, JB Manarchuck had the loss, allowing three runs on four hits, one walk and striking out four in two complete innings.
Massachusetts and Mount St. Mary's are back in action on Saturday, February 21, at Blandair Park for a doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m. Game two of the doubleheader will follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Three Minutemen had two hits apiece, including Ryan Kolben and Jack Beverly with a double each. Reece McCarthy had two hits with two RBI and a run. Gavin O'Brien tallied two runs, while adding a hit of his own.
After three scoreless innings, UMass took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth. O'Brien led off the frame with a single, before stealing second. With two outs, McCarthy hit a single, driving in O'Brien from second to score.
Mount St. Mary's pushed a run across the plate to knot the game up at 1-1, as Evan Meier hit a solo home run to left field in the sixth.
In the top of the eighth, the Minutemen reclaimed the lead, 4-1. With two outs, Will Briggs hit a single with Randen May entering the game as a pinch runner. May stole second with McCarthy at the dish, before McCarthy singled to bring home May, making it a 2-1 contest. Beverly followed with a double, placing McCarthy at third. An error by the third baseman then led to McCarthy crossing the plate for a 3-1 lead. Beverly went home from third on a single from Tirado to take the 4-1 lead.
The top of the ninth saw O'Brien score from third on Ty Fox's sacrifice fly to give Massachusetts a 5-1 lead. With the bases loaded, Sam Hill walked, allowing Kolben to cross home plate from third and make it a 6-1 game.
The Mountaineers were able to score three runs in the top of the ninth, including a 2-run single, but the Jack Niedringhaus struck out the final batter to hang on to give UMass the 6-4 victory.
Brandon Wingenroth recorded his first collegiate win after tossing for two complete innings, allowing no runs, one hit, one walk and striking out a career-best three. Jack Niedringhaus earned his first career save, going 1.2 innings with three runs, four hits, a walk and two strikeouts.
Callen Powers earned the start on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings and giving up one run on three hits, two walks and striking out three.
For Mount St. Mary's, JB Manarchuck had the loss, allowing three runs on four hits, one walk and striking out four in two complete innings.
Massachusetts and Mount St. Mary's are back in action on Saturday, February 21, at Blandair Park for a doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m. Game two of the doubleheader will follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wingenroth, Brandon ()
L: J. Manarchuc ()
S: Niedringhaus, Jack ()
Batting:
2B: Kolben, Ryan 1 ; Beverly, Jack 1
RBI: Tirado, Anthony 1 ; Fox, Ty 1 ; McCarthy, Reece 2 ; Hill, Sam 1
SH: Briggs, Will 1
SF: Fox, Ty 1
Base Running:
RUNS: O'Brien, Gavin 2 ; Kolben, Ryan 1 ; May, Randen 1 ; McCarthy, Reece 1 ; Beverly, Jack 1
SB: Tirado, Anthony 1 ; O'Brien, Gavin 1 ; May, Randen 1 ; McCarthy, Reece 1
HBP: Kolben, Ryan 1
Batting:
2B: A. Mendes 1 ; N. Rodriguez 1
HR: E. Meier 1
RBI: T. Fredo 2 ; E. Meier 2
SH: S. Meyer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: A. Mendes 1 ; N. Rodriguez 1 ; E. Meier 2
SB: A. Mendes 2 ; T. Fredo 1
CS: N. Wiles 1
HBP: A. Mendes 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF/INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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