The Massachusetts baseball team traveled to Michigan to play Mid-American Conference opponent Eastern Michigan in what was a dominant weekend series sweep for the Minutemen (9-18, 5-13 MAC).
The third and final game in the series featured a back-and-forth scoring frenzy. The sixth inning alone had a combined 13 runs scored. UMass scored eight runs in the top half of the inning. Braden Sullivan homered twice in the inning, and Gavin O’Brien crushed a grand slam into left center to score Ty Fox, Anthony Tirado and Will Briggs. The other two runs came from a double and a fielder’s choice.
In the top of the first, Reece McCarthy singled through the left side to score Fox and advance O’Brien to second. Later in the inning, Jack Beverly singled to left center to score Sullivan and McCarthy. In the top of the second, O’Brien singled through the left side to score Fox and Tirado.
The Eagles (10-24, 5-13 MAC) tied it all up in the bottom of the second, thanks to a two-run home run by Devan Zirwas and a 3 RBI home run by John Hale. Eastern Michigan had two consecutive one-run innings in the third and the fourth to make it 7-5 Eagles after four innings of play.
The Minutemen had an impressive sixth inning, scoring eight runs, but Eastern Michigan clawed back to tie the game 13-13 after a five-run sixth inning and one run in the bottom of the seventh.
UMass then reclaimed the lead in the eighth. McCarthy stole home on a wild pitch and Sullivan stole third. Beverly hit a sac-fly to center field to score Sullivan, making it 15-13 in favor of the Minutemen. O’Brien crushed another home run to center field, scoring himself and Fox.
Beverly came up to the plate again and singled down the right field line to score Matt Travisano and Sullivan. The Eagles notched two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it was ultimately not enough as the game ended 19-15 in favor of UMass.
The Minutemen’s dominant 10-0 Saturday victory was highlighted by starting pitcher Adam Merritt, who threw seven no-hit innings on 101 pitches. The right-handed sophomore struck out seven of the 25 batters he faced while delivering 53 strikes.
UMass wasted no time offensively, producing six runs on six hits throughout the first three innings.
Leading 1-0 entering the second frame, Tirado doubled down the right-field line, advancing Beverly and Travisano home after both recorded singles. Then O’Brien, fresh off a home run to left field in the first, brought in two more runs by smashing a double to left-center field, increasing the Minutemen’s lead to five.
O’Brien led UMass’ offensive barrage with three hits, three RBIs, one run scored and a stolen base. Tirado added two hits and two RBIs to keep the Minutemen ahead.
Tirado, with UMass holding an 8-0 advantage in the ninth, drilled a double to right field, which advanced Ryan Kolben to third. The red-shirt sophomore’s connection set up an RBI opportunity for redshirt-freshman Fox, who delivered with a single to bring home both Kolben and Tirado to conclude the contest.
The Minutemen added two runs in the sixth frame as well. Sullivan singled, sending McCarthy to second base after he reached on a groundout from O’Brien. Briggs was then hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases before Travisano drew a walk to send McCarthy home.
Sullivan later scored on a passed ball after the opposing catcher couldn’t corral a pitch, as the team finished the night with 12 hits.
UMass will travel back to Amherst to play in the Baseball Beanpot consolation game in Brighton against Harvard on Tuesday, April 14. The contest will begin at 2 p.m., offering the Minutemen a chance to continue building momentum.
Brennan McGrevy can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @Bmcgrevy, and Andrew Guindon can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @NestPgs.
