The University of Massachusetts baseball team lost to Western Michigan, 6-2, on March 27 at Hyames Field at Robert J. Bobb Stadium.
This game marked another setback for UMass, which now holds a season record of 5-12 overall and is 1-9 in the Mid-American Conference. Western Michigan improved its record to 11-12 overall and 7-3 in conference play.
Gavin O’Brien led the Minutemen with a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Anthony Tirado contributed a hit and scored a run, while Will Briggs also scored. Braden Sullivan added an RBI for Massachusetts.
Both teams were scoreless through three innings before UMass took the lead in the fourth when Briggs was hit by a pitch, stole second base, and eventually scored on four straight balls thrown to Sullivan. Western Michigan tied the game in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly and then took control in the sixth with a two-run double.
UMass narrowed the deficit to one run in the eighth after Tirado singled, advanced around the bases on grounders and a balk, then scored on O’Brien’s single. However, Western Michigan responded by adding three runs in their half of the eighth inning to secure their win.
Callen Powers took his third loss of the season for Massachusetts after allowing three runs over seven innings while striking out five batters. Zach Vriesenga earned his second win for Western Michigan by pitching six innings with only one run allowed. Turner Doran recorded his fifth save without allowing any baserunners over more than an inning pitched.
The teams are scheduled to meet again for game two of their series on Saturday afternoon.
