The University of Massachusetts baseball team earned its first Mid-American Conference win of the season with a 5-4 victory over Akron on March 14 at Skeeles Field.
This win brings UMass to a 5-6 overall record and a 1-4 standing in the conference, while Akron falls to 8-10 overall and 2-3 in league play. The result is significant for UMass as it marks their initial success in conference competition this year.
Gavin O’Brien led the Minutemen offense, going two-for-three with a double, a home run, two runs batted in, and one run scored. Anthony Tirado contributed his first home run of the season and scored twice, while Ty Fox added his second triple of the year. Jack Beverly also drove in a run for Massachusetts.
UMass started strong by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Tirado opened with a double and was brought home by Fox’s triple. Beverly grounded out to allow Fox to score, and after an error advanced Reece McCarthy to third base, O’Brien hit his third home run of the season to give UMass a four-run lead. Akron responded with two runs in their half of the inning and added another in the third, narrowing UMass’s lead to one.
Tirado extended Massachusetts’ advantage with a solo home run in the fifth inning—his fifth career homer—before Akron answered back with another run that same frame. Both teams held each other scoreless through the final four innings, with UMass securing victory by turning a double play at home plate to end the game.
Gavin Sitarz earned his first collegiate win for Massachusetts by pitching two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one batter. Jack Niedringhaus recorded his second save of the year after pitching an inning without allowing any runs. Elijah Griffith took the loss for Akron after giving up five runs over five innings pitched.
UMass and Akron are scheduled for their series finale on Sunday, March 15 at Skeeles Field.
