The University of Massachusetts baseball team lost to Kent State 9-3 on March 21 at Murren Family Field at DiBenedetto Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut.
The result leaves UMass with a 5-9 overall record and a 1-7 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Kent State improved to 17-4 overall and 7-1 in conference play.
Gavin O’Brien and Jack Beverly each collected two hits for UMass, with Beverly hitting a double. Anthony Tirado and Vance Bonior also contributed hits, including Bonior’s first double of the season. Will Briggs and Bonior each drove in a run, while Tirado, Reece McCarthy, and Beverly scored runs for the Minutemen.
UMass took an early lead when Tirado singled, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a play involving Ty Fox being caught stealing. Kent State tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the third inning before scoring eight runs in the fifth to take control. The Minutemen added runs in the fifth and sixth innings but were unable to close the gap as both teams went scoreless over the final three frames.
Adam Merritt took the loss for UMass after allowing six runs on two hits over four and two-thirds innings while striking out five batters. Easton Tumis earned the win for Kent State by giving up two runs on four hits across five innings.
The series between Massachusetts and Kent State is scheduled to conclude with another game at noon on Sunday, March 22 at Murren Family Field.
