Massachusetts Baseball Splits Senior Day Twin Bill With Central Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Central Michigan	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	2	4	9	11	1
Massachusetts	0	0	3	1	0	0	3	6	X	13	10	1

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts baseball split the doubleheader with Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. Massachusetts took game one of the day, 13-9, before falling to the Central Michigan, 14-10.

UMass completed the season 18-29 overall, and 13-20 in the Mid-American Conference, while Central Michigan finished to 43-29 overall and 13-20 in the league.

GAME 1
Massachusetts 13, Central Michigan 9

Five home runs as a team, marking the second most this season, aided UMass to its victory. Vance Bonior, Gavin O'Brien, Ty Fox, Matt Travisano and Jack Beverly all recorded a homer on the day.

O'Brien, Braden Sullivan and Beverly led the team with two hits apiece, as four Minutemen had one hit. Bonior and O'Brien contributed three runs apiece, followed by Beverly and Sam Hill with two each. Bonior, Reece McCarthy and Beverly registered two RBI apiece.

After two scoreless innings, Massachusetts put up three runs in the third with back-to-back home runs. With one out, Hill took first after being hit by a pitch. Bonior then blasted a two-run shot over the left center field hedges for his fourth homer of the season. O'Brien followed with his 14th long ball of the year to give the Minutemen a 3-0 lead.

UMass extended its lead in the fourth, 4-0. Fox led off with a solo home run over the right field fence, marking his fourth of the year.

Central Michigan registered a three-run home run in the sixth to get within on run at 4-3.

The Chippewas had a man on second and first with two outs in the top of the seventh. Fox ended the inning for the Minutemen unscathed as he made the catch at the deep left field fence to rob a home run.

Massachusetts tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull ahead 7-3. Beverly led off with walk and Bonior was hit by a pitch, as the two occupied second and first, respectively. O'Brien was then walked to load up the bases, before Beverly touched home plate to make room for McCarthy as he was walked. A wild pitch helped Bonior cross the dish to make it a 6-3 contest. With two outs, Sullivan singled to third base with O'Brien coming across the plate.

Central Michigan added two runs in the top of the eighth on a two RBI single to make it a 7-5 contest.

The Minutemen recorded back-to-back home runs to begin the bottom half of the eighth to push their lead to 9-5. Travisano started off the frame with a solo shot into the right field hedges, marking his second of the season. Beverly followed with a homer over the left field hedges, marking his first of the year. UMass then added two more runs as Hill came home on a bases loaded walk to make it a 10-5 lead. Bonior then came home on a fielding error by the short stop, before O'Brien scored on a wild pitch to push Massachusetts ahead, 12-5.

The Chippewas put up four runs in the top of the ninth to bring the game to a 13-9 score, but UMass was able to hang on for the win.

Adam Merritt (3-3) received the winning decision for Massachusetts, allowing three runs on five hits, walking three and dealing five strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.

Tyson Potts (2-5) had the loss for Central Michigan, giving up four runs, six hits, no walks and striking out three in four complete innings.

GAME 2
Central Michigan 14, Massachusetts 10

Beverly, Kolben and Sam Hill tallied three hits apiece to lead the Minutemen, which included Kolben's seventh homer of the year. Travisano and Marc Willi had two hits each on the afternoon. Beverly, Kolben and Willi contributed two runs each to UMass' tally. Kolben recorded a career-high five RBI, followed by Willi with two.

Central Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame on a one-out, solo home run. A two-run homer in the top of the second gave the Chippewas a 3-0 lead.

Massachusetts tied up the game in the bottom of the second to make it a 3-3 game. With one out, back-to-back singles from Beverly and Kolben put runners on base. Willi then doubled to right field, allowing Beverly to come across the plate to get on the board at 3-1. After Kolben advanced to third on the double, he headed home on a ground ball to make it a 2-1 contest. Hill singled down the right field line to drive home Willi and knot the game up.

The Chippewas put up a seven spot in the top of the fifth to break the tie and take a 10-3 lead.

The Minutemen got back within three in the bottom of the fifth at 10-7. After two outs, Sullivan singled up the middle. Beverly then hit a single, as Sullivan advanced to third. Kolben blasted a three-run shot over the center field hedges for his seventh of the year. Willi followed up with a solo home run of his own, registering his second of the season.

Central Michigan tacked on three runs in the top of the sixth to claim a 13-7 lead.

UMass scored two runs to make it a 13-9 game in the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back walks started off the frame, putting Travisano on second and Fox at first. Fox advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt, with Travisano advancing to third. Sullivan was then walked, before Travisano scored on a fielder's choice to make it 13-8. Kolben followed with a single to left field to drive home Fox.

The Chippewas added another run in the top of the ninth to extend their lead, 14-10, and held on to come out on top.

Jack Levine (1-4) had the loss for Massachusetts, going 0.1 innings allowing six runs on three hits, a walk and no strikeouts.

Gavin Moczydlowsky (2-4) earned the win for Central Michigan, giving up seven runs on 11 hits, a walk and striking out seven in five complete innings. Liam Strumpf picked up the save, allowing only one run on five hits, walking three and striking out one.

Scoreboard