Ninth Inning Comeback Falls Short At Akron

AKRON, Ohio - University of Massachusetts baseball came up short, 18-17, to Akron in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon at Skeeles Field. Sophomore Reece McCarthy recorded two home runs, including the first of his career and his first collegiate grand slam.

UMass fell to 5-7 overall on the season and 1-5 in the Mid-American Conference, while Akron improved to 9-10 overall and 3-3 in the league.

Anthony Tirado went 5-for-6 on the day, which included two doubles, while adding two RBI and two runs. McCarthy followed with four hits with his first career home run and his first career grand slam for two homers on the afternoon, and added a team- and career-high seven RBI and scored three runs. Braden Sullivan also had four hits, including a double, and three runs, and tallied three RBI. Will Briggs and Vance Bonior each had two hits, with Briggs registering a double. Ty Fox and Gavin O'Brien both had one RBI apiece, as Fix, O'Brien and Bonior totaled two runs each.

After a scoreless first inning, Massachusetts put up eight runs in the top of the second to take the early lead. McCarthy led off with a single through the left side, followed by a single from Briggs. Bonior laid down a bunt to load up the bases. Sullivan then doubled to center field, driving home all three runners to take a 3-0 lead.

After a sacrifice bunt from Randen May to put Sullivan at third, Tirado singled to right field to help Sullivan across the dish for a 4-0 advantage. Tirado then stole second, before advancing to the third on a wild pitch. Fox recorded a double down the right field line to score Tirado and pull UMass ahead 5-0. Stealing third, Fox went home on a throwing error by Akron's catcher to make it a 6-0 game.

Jack Beverly was then walked to take his place at first. McCarthy concluded the scoring in the second frame with a two-run home run over the right field fence, marking the first homer of his career, and giving the Minutemen an 8-0 lead.

Akron scored a run by way of a single in the bottom of the second, but UMass added another run in the top of the third with an RBI double from Tirado to make it a 9-1 contest.

The Zips tacked on one run with an RBI single in the bottom half of the third with Massachusetts still leading, 9-2.

UMass made it a 10-2 game in the top of the fourth with McCarthy's RBI single. Akron added seven more runs in the bottom of the inning, making it a 10-9 contest.

Akron scored three in the fifth and two in the sixth to take a 14-10 lead. The Zips continued to score, posting three in the seventh and one in the eighth to lead 18-10.

The Minutemen tallied seven runs in the final frame, which included a McCarthy's first career grand slam, to come back within one, but it was not enough as the Zips were able to record the final out and win 18-17.

Brandon Wingenroth (1-1) had the loss for UMass, giving up three runs on two hits, walking four and striking out two in an inning.

For Akron, Taylor Bednar (1-2) recorded the win after allowing five runs on as many hits, walking three and dealing two strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work. John Allen earned the save, striking out one batter in 0.1 innings.

Massachusetts continues on the road with a matchup at Army on Tuesday, March 17, in West Point, New York. First pitch is set for 3:35 p.m. on ESPN+.

Scoreboard

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Team Stats

Anthony Tirado

Reece McCarthy

Braden Sullivan

Will Briggs

Players Mentioned

Jack Beverly

Vance Bonior

Will Briggs

Ty Fox

Randen May

Reece McCarthy

Gavin O'Brien

Braden Sullivan

Anthony Tirado

Brandon Wingenroth

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics