Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. – Massachusetts scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth and another in the bottom of the tenth to defeat La Salle, 5-4, on Friday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. Senior Jon Gyles had three singles while classmate Kevin Christy allowed two earned runs in 6.1 innings on the mound for the no-decision. Senior Adam Kammler had a pair of hits for the Blue and Gold.

Trailing 2-0, the Explorers (15-15, 3-5 A-10) scored two runs in the sixth to tie the game. Senior Zach Feierstein reached on an error to start the inning, moved to third on Kammler's single and scored on a senior Marc Schoch groundout. Junior Joe Bennie then singled to drive in Kammler to tie the game at 2-2.

The Explorers took the lead in the seventh. Back-to-back walks to sophomore George Smith, Jr. and Brendan Norton opened the inning and junior Marshall Garcia blasted a two-run double to right to make it 4-2.

Junior closer Pat Christensen came into the game in the seventh with one out, inducing a 6-4-3 double-play to retire the side and pitched a 1-2-3 eighth for the Explorers.

The visitors ran into trouble in the ninth after a lead-off double and hit by pitch gave the Minutemen first and second with nobody out. La Salle did not handle the ensuring sacrifice bunt and consecutive fielder's choice groundballs tied the game for the hosts.

The Explorers went down in order in the tenth and UMass led off the bottom of the frame with a Nik Campero single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and consecutive singles by Nick Sanford and Rich Graef gave the Minutemen the 5-4 walk-off win.

Christensen (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs in three innings. Connor LeBlanc (1-0) earned the win for UM with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Starter Glen Misho threw well for the Minutemen, allowing two earned runs in 6.2 innings.

Campero, Sanford and Anthony Serino all had three hits for UMass. Serino drove in two runs as well.

The series concludes on Saturday at noon.