April 6, 2005

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AMHERST, Mass. -- The University of Massachusetts (3-15) received a pair of homers for the second-straight day, but Hartford (2-7) scored four times in the top of the eighth en route to a 7-6 win this afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. Senior Curt Szado (Monson, Mass.) and freshman Dan Coury (Fall River, Mass.) both notched two-run home runs in the contest.

UMass wasted no time as it opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Junior Derrick Durepo (Ware, Mass.) forced a walk after a leadoff groundout, then Szado took a pitch deep to left center, recording his first homer of the season and giving the Minutemen a 2-0 lead.

The Hawks came right back in the top of the second and were able to tie the game. Frank Cipolla led off the frame with a single to center, and then Luke Trahan drove a double to left center, plating Cipolla as the hit-and-run was on. Josh Topp continued the rally with a single to center which advanced Trahan to third. The next play, Bill Perry grounded into a double play, but Trahan crossed the plate to make the score 2-2.

In the bottom of the fourth, UMass' first two batters were retired. Freshman Bryan Garrity (Peabody, Mass.) doubled down the left field line, and then sophomore Bill Rankin (Willington, Conn.) drove him in with a single to left. On the next play, Coury blasted his second homer of the season over the left-center wall, giving UMass a 5-2 advantage.

Again, Hartford retaliated with a run in the top of the fifth. After a single and a walk for the Hawks, Adam Bowser singled to center, plating Topp.

In the bottom of the seventh, senior Jason Twomley (Fitchburg, Mass.) forced a walk. The Hawks benefited from a 1-6 double play as a bunt was caught in the air by the pitcher, who then fired to second base for a double play. After that play, Twomley stole second base and advanced to third as the throw rolled into the outfield. Sophomore Bryan Adamski (South Deerfield, Mass.) then doubled to right center, plating Twomley to add to UMass' lead, 6-3.

For the third time of the game, Hartford responded with more runs in the next half inning. Bowser started the inning with a single through the left side. Ryan Cuscovitch then doubled down the left field line and the ball rolled enough to score Bowser. Ryan Crowley continued the rally with a single up the middle, which advanced Cuscovitch to third. A ground out to second scored Cuscovitch and made the score 6-5. Trahan then stepped to the plate, and took a pitch deep over the left field wall to give the Hawks the lead, and the win.

Pete Moraski threw 3.0 innings and allowed just two hits in earning the win for the Hawks. Twomley extended his hitting streak to nine games, as he went 1-for-4 with a run scored. Garrity went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored in the loss.

UMass looks to bounce back this weekend when it hosts Duquesne in a three-game series. A doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 9, and then the finale is set for Sunday at noon.