The Massachusetts baseball team failed to secure a win in their final away trip of the season, dropping three straight games to Miami (OH).
The Minutemen (17-27, 12-18 Mid-American Conference) suffered a walk-off defeat to end their series with Miami (35-15, 22-8 MAC). Miami’s three RBI homer closed out the matchup. The climactic ending on Sunday afternoon shut down the UMass’ hopes of coming back home with a win after being up 7-2 entering the final frame of the game.
Sunday’s 8-7 defeat featured a strong hitting performance from many of the Minutemen, scoring three runs in the third inning and four in the eighth. Vance Bonior and Ryan Kolben recorded three hits each, followed by two hits each from Reece McCarthy, Jack Beverly, and Matt Travisano. Four more of UMass’ lineup collected a hit each.
The Minutemen’s eighth inning scoring surge on Sunday was driven by Gavin O’Brien, Travisano, McCarthy and Bonior’s RBI singles. Kolben, Beverly, Travisano and O’Brien were brought home to score four runs for UMass in a single frame.
The Minutemen opened their series against the RedHawks on Friday with a four-run first inning. Braden Sullivan hit a two RBI grand slam to left center field, sending McCarthy home from second. O’Brien homered in game two on Saturday to get UMass on the board in the fourth inning.
The Minutemen fell 10-8 on Saturday to Miami. UMass scored all eight of their runs between the fourth and sixth innings but gave up five unanswered runs between the eighth and ninth. Kolben and McCarthy were each given fielding errors.
Saturday’s three-inning offensive bombardment from the Minutemen delivered two doubles in the fourth inning from McCarthy and Kolben, tying the game at 2-2. In the top of the fifth, UMass scored three more runs off of three hits. Ty Fox hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Sullivan and McCarthy into scoring position. Kolben took the plate next, but struck out, leaving both runners on base.
Redshirt sophomore Anthony Tirado brought his doubles season total to thirteen over the weekend, recording one in each of the three games.
The Minutemen logged 29 total strikeouts across the three-game showdown, with nine on Sunday and 11 strikeouts both Friday and Saturday.
The hard-fought weekend had final scores within one or two runs across all three games. UMass pitcher Brandon Wingenroth picked up the losses from Friday and Sunday, while Jack Niedringhaus was attributed with the loss on Saturday.
In Callen Powers’ turn at the mound on Friday, he allowed six runs off as many hits in his 5.2 innings pitched. Powers struck out four of the 28 batters he faced. The right-handed junior has gone 4-4 on the season and has the most innings pitched out of the Minutemen at 77.2.
Adam Merritt pitched five innings for UMass on Saturday. Merritt struck out two and gave up five runs and seven hits.
UMass started Sam Perry at the rubber on Sunday. Perry pitched four innings and allowed two runs off five hits and collected five strikeouts before being replaced by Michael Goodman. Goodman struck out four of the 18 batters he faced and gave up four runs off five hits.
The Minutemen will play their final season series at home in Amherst against Central Michigan. Game one will kick off at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 14 with the rest of the series being layed on May 15 and May 16. The games can be streamed on ESPN+.
Meghan Barrows can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @meghansbarrows.
