The University of Massachusetts baseball team lost 9-7 to Siena in the series finale at Ripken Stadium on Sunday. With this result, UMass’s record moved to 4-2 for the season, while Siena improved to 2-7.
Anthony Tirado led the Minutemen offense, going 3-for-4 with a career-high four runs batted in. Five other UMass players each contributed one hit. Gavin O’Brien hit a solo home run and Will Briggs recorded his first career double. Reece McCarthy scored two runs, and both O’Brien and Marc Willi added an RBI apiece.
UMass took an early lead when O’Brien homered to right field with two outs in the first inning. The Minutemen extended their advantage in the second after McCarthy singled and stole second base. Braden Sullivan reached on an error during a sacrifice bunt attempt, then stole second himself. Tirado drove in both runners with a single through the right side.
Siena responded with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second inning to make it 3-1. In the fourth, Willi walked and advanced to third on Briggs’s double before scoring on an error that allowed Tirado to reach base.
The Saints scored eight runs—including a two-run homer—in the fifth inning to take control of the game at 9-4.
UMass narrowed the deficit by scoring three runs in the eighth inning. After McCarthy walked and was driven home by Willi’s single, pinch runner Gavin Sitarz replaced Willi while Vance Bonior entered as a pinch hitter for Briggs and reached first after being hit by a pitch. Tirado singled to left center, bringing Sitarz home from second base. With bases loaded, Ty Fox drew a walk that allowed Bonior to score.
Despite holding Siena scoreless in their half of the eighth, UMass could not produce any more runs in the ninth inning.
Jack Levine took the loss for UMass after allowing seven runs on three hits and two walks without recording a strikeout over 0.2 innings pitched. For Siena, George Handal earned his first win of the season by giving up one run over 3.1 innings with two hits and four walks but no strikeouts. Richie Paltrdige picked up the save after pitching 1.1 innings and allowing one hit, one walk, and striking out one batter.
UMass will begin Mid-American Conference play next weekend with a three-game road series against Toledo starting Friday, March 6.
