April 19, 2007

Box Score

BOSTON- The Northeastern Huskies (17-9) jumped on the UMass baseball team (9-16, 4-8) early and the Minutemen were unable to recover, ultimately falling by a final score of 17-6 in the first round of the Beanpot. Bryan Garrity (Peabody, Mass.) and Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa.) both homered for the first time in 2007 to lead the UMass offense. Adam Tempesta (Brockton, Mass.) and Bill Rankin (Willington, Conn.) contributed with two hits apiece. With his single in the first inning, Tempesta has now reached based in 24 straight games. Ryan Walczak started for UMass but only lasted an inning.

After spotting the Huskies a five-run lead, the Minutemen cut into the deficit when Bryan Garrity blasted his first home run on the season to left center in the bottom of the second inning.

Unfortunately, the Husky offense never relented. Northeastern scored a sixth run in the third inning and added four more in the top of the fifth to run the lead to 10-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, UMass tacked on their second run. UMass loaded the bases after Tempesta singled, Jim Cassidy (Medway, Mass.) reached on an error and Garrity walked. With Rankin at the plate, a pitch got by Northeastern catcher Frank Pesanello, allowing Tempesta to scamper home to reduce the lead to eight.

In the bottom of the eighth, trailing 15-2, UMass launched a four-run barrage on Northeastern. Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa.), pinch hitting for Lou Proietti (Hamilton, Ont.), slugged his first collegiate home run, a solo shot to left field. Then with two outs, the Maroon and White put runners on first and second for Rankin who singled home Brian Baudinet (Watertown, Conn.). After a wild pitch moved Ben Kessel (Richboro, Pa.) to third base and Rankin to second, Mike Donato (East Hartford, Conn.) singled to drive in two runs, ending the UMass scoring on the afternoon.

Northeastern retaliated in the top of the ninth with to more runs to bring the score to 17-6.

Six Minutemen pitchers appeared in the game. Senior Rory McDonald (East Longmeadow, Mass.) threw 1.2 scoreless innings and sophomore Mike Dicato (Winthrop, Mass.) added 1.1 innings without allowing a run.

At the plate, seven UMass batters combined for the nine hits, all singled except Garrity and Kauffman's home runs.

UMass will return to action at 3 p.m. Friday at Earl Lorden Field when they host the La Salle Explorers. Fans who canot make the game can listen to the game on WMUA 91.1 or through the live audio link at UMassAthletics.com