April 7, 2009

Box Score

BROCKTON, Mass. - For a second straight year, the UMass baseball team will play in the Beanpot Championship game as the squad earned a 5-2 win over Boston College in the Beanpot Semifinal at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton on Tuesday night. The Minutemen post their second straight victory to move to 8-16 on the year, while the Eagles fall to 19-11. UMass will take on Northeastern for the Beanpot title next Monday, Apr. 13, at 5 p.m. at Fenway Park.

BC was on the board first, posting back-to-back homeruns in the bottom of the second. Mickey Wiswall sent a 2-1 pitch over the right field fence and Mike Belfiore hit another solo shot to right, bringing the score to 2-0. That would be all four the Eagles, however, as the squad managed just three hits in the remaining seven innings, all singles.

With one out in the top of the fourth, the Minutemen leveled the score at 2-2 with one swing of the bat. Junior Brian Baudinet ripped a triple to left, past a diving Mike Sudol, while senior Jim Macdonald followed and rocketed a 1-2 pitch off the scoreboard for a two-run homer.

UMass later plated the winning run in the top of the eighth. Brockton native Adam Tempesta led off with a double to left center and scored on an RBI single by Baudinet. Tempesta then finished off his evening in his hometown by plating a pair of insurance runs the following inning as he dropped a single into right field that brought home sophomore Peter Copa and freshman Tom Conley.

Sophomore Charlie Benson came out of the bullpen for the Minutemen to pick up the win (1-0), pitching a masterful 5.1 innings of scoreless relief, letting up just two hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Boston College starter Pat Dean took the loss (4-2) as he gave up three runs on eight hits in seven innings on the mound, walked two and struck out 10.

Baudinet led all hitters with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with two triples, an RBI and a run scored. Tempesta finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored as he now has 199 hits in his career. Junior Mike Donato also had multiple hits, going 2-for-4 against the Eagles.

UMass will return to action tomorrow, Apr. 8, playing host to UConn at 3 p.m. on Earl Lorden Field.