Across 18 innings of season-critical conference play, the Massachusetts baseball team ground out two wins, powered by two clutch at-bats and a host of dominant efforts on the mound. In a windy and cold Amherst, Mass., Anthony Tirado carried just enough offense from the Minutemen’s (16-24, 12-15 Mid-American Conference) 9-3 victory Saturday.
The redshirt sophomore fell into an 0-2 hole to lead off UMass’ offense. Tirado worked the count all the way back to full. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, his bat flew from his hands, landing in the fence next to the Ohio dugout. The Cheshire, Conn., native ripped off his batting gloves to better his grip and dug in again to the jubilation of his teammates.
Like the day before, Tirado took first on ball four, capitalizing on his long at-bat. After Gavin O’Brien flew out, the Minutemen shortstop took off for second, sliding in safely and advancing to third on a wild throw. Ty Fox’s ground ball to the second baseman secured the run, the only one UMass needed in its 1-0 series-finale win over the Bobcats (9-38, 6-21 MAC).
In a similar way, Sam Hill’s grand slam provided just enough offense for the series-tying victory Saturday. The redshirt senior’s first career four-bagger pushed the Minutemen lead to six, more than enough to eclipse the Ohio’s three total runs.
O’Brien had a two-RBI, two-hit, two-run day, contributing a solo shot after Hill’s four-run homer and driving in Tirado, who walked to lead off the game.
UMass trampled the Bobcats on the scoreboard Saturday, but Sunday’s margin was slimmer, requiring an added X-factor in a game co-head coach Max Weir called “a tough day to hit.”
Freshman Sam Perry provided the boost, squaring off against Ohio ace Evan Lichtenauer.
Through his last three starts, Perry tossed 21 innings and accumulated 15 strikeouts with zero runs allowed. Six walks and 12 hits were the only stains on an all but perfect resume for the up-and-coming starter. On his best day yet, Perry threw 6.1 no-hit innings and stretched his team’s 1-0 lead into quite the unexpected challenge for the visitors.
“The big thing for [Perry]; making that jump from coming out of the bullpen, is showing the consistency to land multiple pitches,” co-head coach Brandon Shileikis said. “We knew right away if he started doing that, he’d be effective.”
The Westport Mass., native missed barrels all day Sunday, leaving Bobcats hitters off-balance and unsettled. The steep upward trajectory of Perry’s on-mound dominance came at an opportune time. With the conference tournament weeks away, his presence extended beyond just his own performance.
“[Our relievers are] going in [to the game] with all the confidence in the world, because they just watched a guy in front of them go in and mow down a lineup,” Shileikis said.
Adam Merritt collected the win Saturday and handed a six-run lead to redshirt sophomore Ben Thomason and submariner Dylan Terwilliger. Both pitchers covered the four innings required to win, a must-have in the month of May.
When the closing game brought less room for error, Brandon Wingenroth and Jack Niedringhaus delivered the 1-2 punch they had become known for delivering, closing the 2.2-inning gap between Perry’s incredible start and the series win.
While outside noise could have distracted a team, it also motivated the Minutemen to their best ball of the season. The MAC tournament holds just six teams, and with two weekends to go, UMass sat in spot No. 7. Ball State is two games ahead, and both teams play similar remaining schedules.
With UMass gaining momentum down the stretch and Ball State dropping a series finale by 17, the Minutemen looked like the dark horse for some championship hardware.
“I think this group deserves it, and I think if we’re able to get there, there’s probably not a team playing better than us in conference play right now,” Weir said. “We just got to keep this thing rolling.”
Keep things rolling they will as UMass play again at Earl Lorden on Wednesday May 6, against in-state opponent UMass Lowell. Watch the non-conference matchup on ESPN+ at 3 p.m.
Matt Ford-Wellman can be reached at [email protected] or followed on X @MattFW_4.
