Massachusetts Baseball Blanks Eastern Michigan, 10-0, For First MAC Series Win

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
MASSACHUSETTS	1	4	1	0	0	2	0	0	2	10	12	0
Eastern Michigan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0

MASSACHUSETTS

Eastern Michigan

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Behind power shutout pitching from sophomore Adam Merritt and redshirt sophomore Ben Thomason, University of Massachusetts baseball picked up its second combined shutout victory of the season, blanking Eastern Michigan, 10-0, on Saturday afternoon at Oestrike Stadium. It marked the first Mid-American Conference series win for Massachusetts this season.

Merritt received his first collegiate win after allowing no hits through seven innings of work, while Thomason finished the final two innings with only two hits allowed.

UMass improved to 8-18 overall on the season and 4-13 in the MAC, as Eastern Michigan moved to 10-23 overall and 5-12 in the league.

Additionally, the Minutemen got the bats going, led by Gavin O'Brien, who went 3-for-5 on the day. O'Brien recorded his fifth home run of the season, eighth double of the year and had a single, while adding a game-high and career-best matching three RBI and one run scored. Anthony Tirado, Ty Fox and Matt Travisano tallied two hits apiece, which included two doubles from Tirado. Tirado and Fox also posted two RBI, with Tirado scoring two runs. Braden Sullivan and Ryan Kolben also contributed two runs each, as Travisano and Jack Beverly both registered an RBI.

O'Brien opened the scoring for Massachusetts with a two-out, solo home run to left field in the first frame to take a 1-0 lead.

The Minutemen extended their lead in the second, making it a 5-0 contest. Will Briggs and Travisano started off the inning with back-to-back singles, before Beverly was walked to load up the bases. A fielder's choice got the out at home plate, but loaded up the bases again with Kolben on first and Travisano and Beverly in scoring position. Tirado then doubled down the right field line as Travisano and Beverly crossed the dish to make it 3-0. With two outs, O'Brien recorded a double to right center field, scoring Kolben and Tirado to increase the lead to 5-0.

UMass continued to add to its lead in the third. With Sullivan on base and two outs, Beverly singled to right center field, as Sullivan came across home plate to give Massachusetts a 6-0 lead.

Massachusetts tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth. Reece McCarthy touched the plate on a bases loaded walk, before Sullivan scored on a passed ball.
In the top of the ninth, the Minutemen pushed across two more runs as Fox hit a two-run single to score Kolben and Tirado.

The Minutemen were able to hold off Eastern Michigan in the final frame to claim the 10-0 MAC series win.

Merritt (1-3) secured his first career win, allowing no hits, no runs, walking four and striking out a career-high matching seven in seven innings of work for the Minutemen. It also marked his first career shutout. Thomason capped the final two innings with only two hits allowed, no runs, two walks and a strikeout.

Cal Rutherford (2-1) had the loss for the Eagles, tossing 1.2 innings and giving up five runs on as many hits, walking two and striking out two.

Massachusetts looks to sweep the series on Sunday, April 12, taking on Eastern Michigan at 1 p.m. on Eagles All-Access.

Scoreboard