George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
<b>MASSACHUSETTS</b>
Colonials Drop A-10 Opener To UMass, 8-4
3/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 25, 2011
ARLINGTON, VA- The George Washington baseball team opened Atlantic 10 conference play on Friday afternoon at Barcroft Park but were unable to overcome an early outburst by Massachusetts, falling 8-4.
UMass (5-8, 1-0) struck for two runs in the second inning and five runs in the third inning off of Colonial starter Brian Derner to take a commanding 7-0 lead. The Minutemen used a sacrifice fly and RBI single in the second inning and a series of two-out hits including a two-run double by Josh Messier in the third to build their lead.
GW (6-16, 0-1) answered with one run in the bottom of the fourth inning after junior Jimmy Best's RBI double. UMass responded in the top of the fifth with a solo homerun by Kyle Multner to extend the lead to 8-1.
The Colonials struck for two runs in the bottom of the fifth after loading the bases with no outs. Freshman Jordan Berry led off the inning with an infield single and he advanced to third following senior Brendon Kelliher's double. Sophomore Justin Albright walked to load the bases and junior Stephen Oswald followed with an RBI single, which drove in Berry. Best knocked in his second run of the day with an RBI groundout but that is all the Colonials could muster.
GW would add a run in the sixth after Berry connected for a RBI double. Berry finished the day 3-for-4 with a RBI while. Kelliher was 3-for-5 with two doubles and Best was 2-for-3.
The Colonial bullpen took over in the seventh inning and the trio of Ryan Heinz, Kenny O'Brien and Chris Keiper combined to hold the Minutemen hitless over the final two and two-third innings but GW was unable to complete the rally.
Sunday's scheduled game has been cancelled due to rain and snow in the forecast. As a result a doubleheader will be played on Saturday afternoon with the first of two nine-inning games beginning at 12:00 pm.
