University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, April 3
Amherst, Mass.
11 A.M.
University of Massachusetts
6-15, 2-11
4
vs
0
Northern Illinois
16-9, 8-5
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Northern Illinois
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
Massachusetts
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
X
4
6
1
Massachusetts Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Northern Illinois
April 03, 2026 | Baseball
The Minutemen claimed a 4-0 win in game one, before falling 6-4 in extra innings in game two.
AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts baseball split the doubleheader with Northern Illinois on Friday at Earl Lorden Field. Massachusetts claimed a 4-0 shutout victory in game one of the day, before Northern Illinois earned a 6-4 win in 11 innings in game two.
UMass moved to 6-16 overall and 2-12 in the Mid-American Conference, while NIU sits at 17-9 overall and 9-5 in the league.
With the series tied up, the Minutemen and Huskies will prepare for the rubber match on Saturday, April 4, at Earl Lorden Field. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m.
Game 1
Massachusetts 4, Northern Illinois 0 (9 inn.)
Vance Bonior went 2-for-3, which included his first home run of the season, while adding a run and a team-best two RBI. Anthony Tirado, Gavin O'Brien, Will Briggs and Braden Sullivan all had one hit apiece, with Tirado, O'Brien and Reece McCarthy tallying a run. O'Brien and Briggs both had one RBI each.
After a scoreless opening frame, Massachusetts took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. McCarthy led off with a walk, before Bonior recorded a two-run homer to deep left field. It marked the first home run of the season for Bonior.
The Minutemen extended their lead, 3-0, in the third. Tirado led off the inning with a single up the middle, before stealing second. With two outs, Briggs hit an RBI single up the middle, allowing Tirado to cross the dish.
O'Brien started off the eighth with a solo shot to deep right field to pull UMass ahead, 4-0.
The Minutemen defense held off the Huskies in the final frame to win, 4-0.
Callen Powers (2-3) secured the winning decision for Massachusetts. Starting on the mound, Powers gave up no runs, two hits, four walks and dealt a career-high 10 strikeouts in seven complete innings of work.
Danny Cihocki (2-2) took the loss for Northern Illinois, allowing three run on five hits, walking two and striking out four in six innings.
Game 2
Northern Illinois 6, Massachusetts 4 (11 inn.)
McCarthy was 3-for-5 on the day with a run and two RBI. Tirado, Ty Fox and Jack Beverly followed with two hits each, including a double from Fox. Fox added a team-high two runs, with Bonior also scoring on the afternoon. Marc Willi and Ryan Kolben posted an RBI apiece.
After three scoreless innings, Northern Illinois grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.
UMass cut its deficit in half in the bottom half of the fourth, making it a 2-1 game. Bonior took first base after being hit by a pitch, followed by back-to-back singles from Sullivan and Beverly. A sacrifice hit from Kolben helped Bonior touch home plate to get on the board.
The Minutemen leveled the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning. Fox doubled to right field to lead off the frame. McCarthy then singled to center field to drive home Fox.
The Huskies took back the lead in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to go-ahead, 3-2. Northern Illinois added another run in the top of the eighth on an RBI double to pull ahead 4-2.
Massachusetts scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to get back within one. McCarthy led off with a single to left field, before Bonior was hit by a pitch to take his place at first. After a fly out, Willi singled up the middle, aiding McCarthy across the plate from second base to make it a 4-3 contest.
The Minutemen forced extra innings, as they knotted up the game at 4-4 in the ninth. Fox led with a single to left, before advancing to second on a grounder. A wild pitch then allowed Fox to reach third. McCarthy hit a fly ball to center field as Fox tagged up and slide into home to tie the game.
NIU pushed across two runs in the top of the 11th to pull ahead, 6-4.
Despite two on base, UMass was unable to push a run across, as the Huskies went on to win 6-4.
Jack Niedringhaus (0-1) had the loss for Massachusetts, going 1.2 innings and allowing two runs on two hits, three walks and striking out one.
For Northern Illinois, Nick Bassi (3-0) received the win after giving up two hits, no runs, two walks and striking out one in 1.1 innings of work.
John Lyman picked up his second save of the season, allowing no runs, no hits, no walks and dealing two strikeouts.
UMass moved to 6-16 overall and 2-12 in the Mid-American Conference, while NIU sits at 17-9 overall and 9-5 in the league.
With the series tied up, the Minutemen and Huskies will prepare for the rubber match on Saturday, April 4, at Earl Lorden Field. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m.
Game 1
Massachusetts 4, Northern Illinois 0 (9 inn.)
Vance Bonior went 2-for-3, which included his first home run of the season, while adding a run and a team-best two RBI. Anthony Tirado, Gavin O'Brien, Will Briggs and Braden Sullivan all had one hit apiece, with Tirado, O'Brien and Reece McCarthy tallying a run. O'Brien and Briggs both had one RBI each.
After a scoreless opening frame, Massachusetts took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. McCarthy led off with a walk, before Bonior recorded a two-run homer to deep left field. It marked the first home run of the season for Bonior.
The Minutemen extended their lead, 3-0, in the third. Tirado led off the inning with a single up the middle, before stealing second. With two outs, Briggs hit an RBI single up the middle, allowing Tirado to cross the dish.
O'Brien started off the eighth with a solo shot to deep right field to pull UMass ahead, 4-0.
The Minutemen defense held off the Huskies in the final frame to win, 4-0.
Callen Powers (2-3) secured the winning decision for Massachusetts. Starting on the mound, Powers gave up no runs, two hits, four walks and dealt a career-high 10 strikeouts in seven complete innings of work.
Danny Cihocki (2-2) took the loss for Northern Illinois, allowing three run on five hits, walking two and striking out four in six innings.
Game 2
Northern Illinois 6, Massachusetts 4 (11 inn.)
McCarthy was 3-for-5 on the day with a run and two RBI. Tirado, Ty Fox and Jack Beverly followed with two hits each, including a double from Fox. Fox added a team-high two runs, with Bonior also scoring on the afternoon. Marc Willi and Ryan Kolben posted an RBI apiece.
After three scoreless innings, Northern Illinois grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.
UMass cut its deficit in half in the bottom half of the fourth, making it a 2-1 game. Bonior took first base after being hit by a pitch, followed by back-to-back singles from Sullivan and Beverly. A sacrifice hit from Kolben helped Bonior touch home plate to get on the board.
The Minutemen leveled the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning. Fox doubled to right field to lead off the frame. McCarthy then singled to center field to drive home Fox.
The Huskies took back the lead in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to go-ahead, 3-2. Northern Illinois added another run in the top of the eighth on an RBI double to pull ahead 4-2.
Massachusetts scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to get back within one. McCarthy led off with a single to left field, before Bonior was hit by a pitch to take his place at first. After a fly out, Willi singled up the middle, aiding McCarthy across the plate from second base to make it a 4-3 contest.
The Minutemen forced extra innings, as they knotted up the game at 4-4 in the ninth. Fox led with a single to left, before advancing to second on a grounder. A wild pitch then allowed Fox to reach third. McCarthy hit a fly ball to center field as Fox tagged up and slide into home to tie the game.
NIU pushed across two runs in the top of the 11th to pull ahead, 6-4.
Despite two on base, UMass was unable to push a run across, as the Huskies went on to win 6-4.
Jack Niedringhaus (0-1) had the loss for Massachusetts, going 1.2 innings and allowing two runs on two hits, three walks and striking out one.
For Northern Illinois, Nick Bassi (3-0) received the win after giving up two hits, no runs, two walks and striking out one in 1.1 innings of work.
John Lyman picked up his second save of the season, allowing no runs, no hits, no walks and dealing two strikeouts.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Powers, Callen (2-3)
L: Cihocki, Danny (2-2)
Base Running:
SB: Parcell, Charlie 1
Batting:
HR: Bonior, Vance 1 ; O'Brien, Gavin 1
RBI: Bonior, Vance 2 ; O'Brien, Gavin 1 ; Briggs, Will 1
SH: Beverly, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bonior, Vance 1 ; McCarthy, Reece 1 ; O'Brien, Gavin 1 ; Tirado, Anthony 1
SB: Tirado, Anthony 1 ; Briggs, Will 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF/INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
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