March 21, 2006

Box Score

The Massachusetts Minutemen ( 2-5, 0-0 Atlantic 10) snapped a four game losing skid with a 7-2 win over the Tars of Rollins College (16-11, 2-4 Sunshine State Conference). UMass starter sophomore Aaron Smith (Westfield, Mass.) held the Rollins bats in check for five and 1/3 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two strikeouts to pick up his first win of the season.and freshman Mike Dicato (Winthrop, Mass.) provided three and 2/3 innings of shut out relief to give the Minutemen the victory. Anthony Soto lead the Tars offense going 2-5 with a run scored. The UMass lineup featured eight starters reaching base, lead by freshman Adam Tempesta ( Brockton, Mass.) who was 2-4 with a RBI and a run scored

The Minutemen took an early 1-0 lead in the third. Tempesta singled to start the inning and was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Frank McPherson ( Somerville, Mass.). Tars starter Jonathan Wano retired senior Derrick Durepo (Ware, Mass.) via strikeout for the second out of the inning. Junior Bill Rankin (Willington Conn.) stepped up to the plate and lined a single to right to score Tempesta from second.

Rollins responded in the bottom half of the third as Ryan McKenzie lead off the inning with a line drive to right that was mishandled by freshman right fielder Joe Cotone (Yorktown, N.Y.). Gary Martoccio advanced McKenzie to third base on a bunt single down the first base line. The following batter, Tyler Hartman, drove a fly ball deep enough to score McKenzie from third, tying the score at 1-1. Smith allowed one more base runner, but retired the next two Tars batters to get out of the inning.

Sloppy play sparked the Minutemen rally in the top half of the fourth as three UMass runners crossed the plate. Sophomore Ryan Franczek (Chicopee, Mass.) lead off the inning with a double to right center and junior Bryan Adamski (South Deerfield, Mass.) followed with a base on balls. Wano then attempted to pick off Adamski at first, but the throw sailed deep into foul territory and allowed Adamski to advance to third and Franczek to come in with the go ahead run making it 2-1. Wano retired freshman Jim MacDonald (Cheshire, Conn.) on strikes and Cotone on a flyball to right, but Cotone's ball was deep enough to move Adamski over to third. Junior Lou Proietti ( Hamilton, Ont.) then reached on an error that allowed Adamski to score. Proietti then proceeded to steal second base and was driven in on a Tempesta single up the middle as the Minutemen took a 4-1 lead. Wano took the loss falling to 1-2.

The Minutemen added an insurance run for Smith in the top half of the fifth. Smith breezed through the first five innings allowing two hits and one unearned run while striking out two Tar batters. Smith came out for the sixth and allowed a leadoff double to Anthony Soto. Smith got Brent Magnuson to ground out to third, but surrendered a single up the middle to Stefano Foggi, which scored Soto cutting the Minuteman to 5-2. UMass head coach Mike Stone then called upon Dicato, who got the Minutemen out of the inning without any more damage.

The Minutemen would add two runs in the top half of the seventh and would cruise to a 7-2 victory. The Tars had runners on in the seventh and the eighth innings, including a bases loaded, two out situation in the eighth. However, each time Dicato was able to work out of the jam and in the end, picked up the save. UMass pitchers were aided greatly by the Minutemen defense, especially Adamski who made several outstanding plays at first in addition to reaching base in four of his five at bats.

The Minutemen also got outstanding plate appearances the 1-3 hitters, Durepo, Rankin and Franczek. Durepo reached base twice, including a double and had two runs scored. Rankin was 1-3 with a RBI and run scored while Franczek reached twice, including a double, and scored a run.

The Minutemen will return to action tomorrow evening, Wednesday March 22st at 7:00 p.m. Freshman Tom Cote (East Swanzey, N.H.) will get the start for UMass.