April 14, 2003

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. - Senior designated hitter Chris Morgan (Cranston, R.I.) went two for four with a home run and two runs batted in, to lead the University of Massachusetts baseball to a 10-8 victory over Fordham at Jack Coffey Field. With the win, the Minutemen complete a three-game sweep of the Rams to improve to 11-9 overall and 6-3 in Atlantic 10 Conference play, while Fordham falls to 7-17 overall and 3-8 in the league. UMass is now tied with Rhode Island for first place in the East Division of the Atlantic 10.

The Minutemen trailed 5-3 after six innings of play, before rallying for four runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead for good. Sophomore outfielder Jason Twomley (Fitchburg, Mass.) had an RBI double in the inning, while Morgan and junior second baseman Cullan Maumus (New Orleans, La.) added RBI singles, and senior first baseman Jeff Altieri (Whitinsville, Mass.) had a sacrifice fly.

Fordham cut the UMass lead to 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI goundout by Kurt Thomas, but freshman catcher Frank Curreri (Weymouth, Mass.) hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth to make it 8-6. The Rams would again cut the Minuteman lead to one-run in the bottom of the eighth on a solo homer by Jeremy Bourgeois, before UMass came back with two runs in the top of the ninth. Morgan led off the inning with a solo home run, then senior outfielder Matt Boulanger (Westfield, Mass.) added an RBI single later in the inning. Fordham added one more run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Minutemen held on for the win.

Sophomore righthanded pitcher Anthony Gallo (Peabody, Mass.) earned his first win of the season for UMass, allowing one unearned run on two hits in two innings of relief. Sophomore lefthanded pitcher Scott Ratliff (Helendale, Calif.) picked up his fifth save of the year, despite allowing one run in the ninth inning.

In addition to Morgan, Maumus, Twomley and Curreri all had two hits for UMass.

The Minutemen return to action tomorrow, April 15, when they play host to Connecticut in a 3:00 p.m. game at Earl Lorden Field.

Massachusetts 10, Fordham 8                    R  H  E
Massachusetts (11-9, 6-3 A-10)  200 001 412 - 10 11  2
Fordham (7-17, 3-8 A-10)        000 302 111 -  8  9  3
UM: Matt Torra, Anthony Gallo (6), Mike Crane (8),
Scott Ratliff (9) and Tom Ellerbrook.
FU: Bryan Kelly, Dave Rodriguez (6), Craig Tscheredinikov (7),
Andrew Paolillo (9) and Jeremy Bourgeois.
2B: Matt Reynolds (UM), Jason Twomley (UM),
Frank Curreri (UM), Joe Ciccone (FU).
3B: None.
HR: Chris Morgan (UM), Frank Curreri (UM), Jeremy Bourgeois (FU).
Win: Anthony Gallo (1-0).
Loss: Dave Rodriguez (1-3).
Save: Scott Ratliff (5).