April 9, 2002

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts baseball team pounded out a season-high 18 hits, including three home runs and seven doubles, en route to a 15-6 win over Holy Cross here at Earl Lorden Field on Tuesday afternoon. With the win, UMass improves to 9-14 on the season, while the Crusaders fall to 7-15.

After Holy Cross took the lead with a run in the top of the fifth to make the score 5-4, UMass pounded out four runs on four hits, including a double by senior captain Aaron Senez (Springfield, Mass.) and an RBI-single by junior catcher Chris Morgan (Cranston, R.I.), in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.

The Crusaders scored a run in the top of the sixth to make the score 8-6, but UMass put the game away as the Minutemen scored seven times in the bottom of the inning. Morgan, who finished the afternoon 3-for-5 with five runs batted in, spurred the UMass rally with a towering, three-run blast over the right field fence.

Freshman lefthander Scott Ratliff (Helendale, Calif.) allowed just one baserunner as he threw the last three and one-third innings for the Minutemen to pick up his second victory of the season. Ratliff, who has struggled with his control at times this season, struck out three and walked none, while retiring 10 of the 11 batters he faced.

The Minutemen saw every starter get at least one basehit, and Morgan and junior Tim Klett (Chicopee, Mass.) each tallied three knocks to lead UMass. Morgan, Senez and junior rightfielder Connell Clark (Springfield, Mass.) all hit home runs.

UMass will travel to Storrs, Conn., on Wednesday for a one-game set against Connecticut before making the trip to Boston to face Northeastern on Thursday afternoon. Both games are scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.

Line Score
UMass 15, Holy Cross 6
Holy Cross (7-15)	012	111	000  -	6     9  3
UMass (9-14)		112	047	00x  -	15  18  3

HC: Drew Bigda, James DeLucia (2), Mike Kerns (5), Eric Trapper (6),
Dan Powers (8) and Dale Johnson.
UM: Julio Ramos, Neil Scheller (5), Scott Ratliff (6) and Chris Morgan,
Tom Ellerbrook (8).
W- Ratliff (2-2). L- DeLucia (0-3).
E - Andruskevich, Raus 2, Senez, Morgan, Maumus.
DP - UMass 1. LOB - Holy Cross 9, UMass 6.
2B - Andruskevich, Klett 2 (4), Senez (8), Morgan (4), Altieri (6),
Stojanowski (4), Boulanger (1).
HR - Summa, Bigda, Senez (4), Morgan (5), Clark (1).
SB - Clark (7). CS - Powers, Durepo.
SF - McEvoy, Boulanger (1).