Although the Massachusetts baseball team will not be playing for a Beanpot title this season, they look forward to getting back on track in an Atlantic 10 series against Xavier this weekend.
UMass (12-17, 5-4 in A-10) is looking to win its second consecutive conference series. The Minutemen beat out Temple last weekend, taking two of three games and scoring 48 runs against the Owls over the series.
UMass lost in its last appearance to Harvard, 1-0, in the first-round of the Beanpot on Wednesday.
“We need to bounce back from a tough loss yesterday,” said UMass’ Matt Gedman in an interview to UMass media relations.
The Musketeers come into the series ranked 10th in the A-10 standings with an 18-18 overall record and 3-6 record in A-10 play. Xavier will be looking to get the rust off quickly at Earl Lorden Field on Friday as it has not played since April 13, coming off losses at the Joe Nuxhall Classic. The Musketeers’ last two games against Wright State and Miami (OH) were canceled due to inclement weather.
Xavier is 1-2 in A-10 series this season, taking two of three against Temple and dropping its last two series’ against Richmond and Charlotte. The Musketeers have not fared well on the road this season, posting a record of 4-11 in away games.
On the offensive side, Xavier has seven players batting over .300 this season, led by senior Ben Thomas with a .412 average. He also leads the team in hits, doubles, RBI and has already cracked 11 home runs this season. UMass will be looking to get their bats rolling again after being blanked in its last outing. Gedman leads the team currently with a .451 batting average and 29 runs scored and is currently in the midst of a 17-game hit streak. Senior Peter Copa is second with a .361 average and leads the squad with eight homeruns, 30 RBI and a .680 slugging percentage.
“I’m feeling pretty comfortable at the plate right now. I got a couple good hitters hitting in front of me, so either way they have to pitch to me because the guys in front and behind me are doing so well too,” said Gedman in an interview to UMass media relations.
On the mound, the Musketeers have been sticking with a consistent four-man rotation with Brian Muransky, Jon Richard, Vinny Nittoli and Tyler Koors all getting time on the rubber. Xavier currently holds at 5.01 ERA as a staff, led by Muransky with a 3.12 mark on seven starts in 13 appearances this season. The workhorse out of the bullpen for the Musketeers is sophomore Markus Kuykendoll, who leads the team in ERA with a 2.93 mark in 21 appearances and has a 1-3 record on the season.
UMass hurlers will look to get back in the win column. Lefthander Charlie Benson threw a gem on Wednesday, pitching eight innings, striking out seven and allowing just one run on nine hits and three walks. Junior Joe Popielarczyk will be looking for redemption after his last outing when he was tacked for seven earned runs in just 1.1 innings. Other possible starters in the rotation for the Minutemen include Glen Misho (5-1), Robert Machado (2-4) and Dennis Torres (2-2). As a staff, UMass is sporting a 5.66 ERA.
The Minutemen are 1-3 at home so far this season and look to improve their record beginning on Friday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Earl Lorden Field. The squads will square off again on Sunday for the series finale in a noon tilt.
Michael Counos can be reached at [email protected].
