University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, May 2
Amherst, Mass.
2 P.M.
University of Massachusetts
15-24, 11-15
9
vs
3
Ohio
9-37, 6-20
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 9 | 7 | 1 |
Fourth Inning Surge Pushes Baseball Past Ohio, 9-3
May 02, 2026 | Baseball
Hill contributed four runs in the fourth with his first career grand slam.
AMHERST, Mass. – A six-run fourth inning for the University of Massachusetts baseball team aided the Minutemen to a 9-3 win in game two over Ohio on Saturday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. Redshirt senior Sam Hill registered his first collegiate grand slam, and first home run of the season to contribute to the surge in the fourth.
UMass improved to 15-24 overall, and 11-15 in the Mid-American Conference, while Ohio moved to 9-37 overall and 6-20 in the league.
Gavin O'Brien led the team in hits with two, including a double and his 10th home run of the year. Anthony Tirado, Reece McCarthy, Braden Sullivan, Ryan Kolben and Hill all had one hit each, which included Hill's grand slam, and doubles from both McCarthy and Kolben. Hill recorded a career-high four RBI while notching a run, followed by O'Brien with two RBI and two runs scored. Jack Beverly and Kolben also had one RBI each, as four other Minutemen contributed to UMass' total.
Massachusetts took a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. Tirado led off with a walk, before O'Brien drove him home on a double to deep left field to put UMass on the board at 1-0. With two outs and O'Brien on third, McCarthy reached first on a fielding error to keep the inning alive, as O'Brien ran home to add to the Minutemen's total.
Ohio posted a run in the third on an RBI single to make it a 2-1 game.
The Minutemen put a six-run cell in the sixth inning. Back-to-back walks started the frame, as Beverly loaded up the bases after being hit by a pitch. Kolben was then walked with McCarthy touching home plate to make room on the bases to give UMass a 3-1 lead. Hill sailed the ball deep over the center field fence for his first collegiate home run, and first homer of the year, to clear the bases to extend Massachusetts' lead to 7-1. With one out, O'Brien recorded his 10th long ball of the season, sending the ball over the left field hedges to pull the Minutemen ahead, 8-1.
The Bobcats tacked on a run in the top of the fifth to make it an 8-2 contest, but UMass took back the run in the bottom of the inning to take a 9-2 advantage. McCarthy started off with a double to left field, followed by an infield single bunt for Sullivan. Beverly hit a sacrifice bunt to bring home McCarthy from third.
In the top of the top of the seventh, Ohio scored a run on a fielding error to make it a 9-3 game.
Both teams went scoreless in the final two innings as the Minutemen won 9-3 to tie up the series.
Adam Merritt (2-3) secured the win for Massachusetts after giving up two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out two in five complete innings.
Hunter Winston (1-5) took the loss for Ohio allowing six runs, one hit, walking five and striking out two in three innings of work.
Massachusetts and Ohio set for the rubber match on Sunday, May 3, at 12 p.m. on ESPN+ at the Earl.
UMass improved to 15-24 overall, and 11-15 in the Mid-American Conference, while Ohio moved to 9-37 overall and 6-20 in the league.
Gavin O'Brien led the team in hits with two, including a double and his 10th home run of the year. Anthony Tirado, Reece McCarthy, Braden Sullivan, Ryan Kolben and Hill all had one hit each, which included Hill's grand slam, and doubles from both McCarthy and Kolben. Hill recorded a career-high four RBI while notching a run, followed by O'Brien with two RBI and two runs scored. Jack Beverly and Kolben also had one RBI each, as four other Minutemen contributed to UMass' total.
Massachusetts took a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. Tirado led off with a walk, before O'Brien drove him home on a double to deep left field to put UMass on the board at 1-0. With two outs and O'Brien on third, McCarthy reached first on a fielding error to keep the inning alive, as O'Brien ran home to add to the Minutemen's total.
Ohio posted a run in the third on an RBI single to make it a 2-1 game.
The Minutemen put a six-run cell in the sixth inning. Back-to-back walks started the frame, as Beverly loaded up the bases after being hit by a pitch. Kolben was then walked with McCarthy touching home plate to make room on the bases to give UMass a 3-1 lead. Hill sailed the ball deep over the center field fence for his first collegiate home run, and first homer of the year, to clear the bases to extend Massachusetts' lead to 7-1. With one out, O'Brien recorded his 10th long ball of the season, sending the ball over the left field hedges to pull the Minutemen ahead, 8-1.
The Bobcats tacked on a run in the top of the fifth to make it an 8-2 contest, but UMass took back the run in the bottom of the inning to take a 9-2 advantage. McCarthy started off with a double to left field, followed by an infield single bunt for Sullivan. Beverly hit a sacrifice bunt to bring home McCarthy from third.
In the top of the top of the seventh, Ohio scored a run on a fielding error to make it a 9-3 game.
Both teams went scoreless in the final two innings as the Minutemen won 9-3 to tie up the series.
Adam Merritt (2-3) secured the win for Massachusetts after giving up two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out two in five complete innings.
Hunter Winston (1-5) took the loss for Ohio allowing six runs, one hit, walking five and striking out two in three innings of work.
Massachusetts and Ohio set for the rubber match on Sunday, May 3, at 12 p.m. on ESPN+ at the Earl.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Merritt, Adam (2-3)
L: Winston, Hunter (1-5)
Batting:
2B: Alexander, Brady 1 ; Stack, Tyler 1
RBI: Boyd, Cameron 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Steinbaugh, Cale 2 ; Alexander, Brady 1
SB: Alexander, Brady 1 ; Harris, Taylor 1 ; Boyd, Cameron 1
HBP: Harris, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: McCarthy, Reece 1 ; O'Brien, Gavin 1 ; Kolben, Ryan 1
HR: O'Brien, Gavin 1 ; Hill, Sam 1
RBI: O'Brien, Gavin 2 ; Kolben, Ryan 1 ; Hill, Sam 4 ; Beverly, Jack 1
SH: Hill, Sam 1 ; Beverly, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sullivan, Braden 1 ; McCarthy, Reece 2 ; O'Brien, Gavin 2 ; Kolben, Ryan 1 ; Tirado, Anthony 1 ; Hill, Sam 1 ; Beverly, Jack 1
CS: Tirado, Anthony 1
HBP: Beverly, Jack 1
Players Mentioned
INF
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