The University of Massachusetts baseball team defeated Bowling Green 5-4 in the first game of its Mid-American Conference series on April 17 at Earl Lorden Field.
The win brings UMass to a record of 10-19 overall and 6-13 in conference play, while Bowling Green moves to 15-21 overall and 8-11 in the league. The close score highlights the competitiveness between the two teams as they continue their series.
Anthony Tirado and Braden Sullivan led Massachusetts with two hits each. Jack Beverly and Ryan Kolben added one hit apiece, with Kolben hitting his third home run of the season. Five Minutemen scored runs during the game, including Sullivan and Beverly. Kolben also led with three runs batted in, while Vance Bonior and Matt Travisano each contributed one RBI.
After three scoreless innings, UMass took a five-run lead in the fourth inning. Ty Fox walked to start things off, followed by Reece McCarthy reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Sullivan’s bunt single loaded the bases before Fox scored on a sacrifice fly from Bonior. Another sacrifice fly from Travisano brought McCarthy home for a second run. Kolben then hit his third home run of the season to deep left field, scoring Sullivan and Beverly for a total of five runs that inning.
Bowling Green responded with three runs in the fifth inning and added another run in the eighth to narrow UMass’s lead to one run. However, Massachusetts held off Bowling Green’s late efforts for a narrow victory.
Callen Powers earned his fourth win of the season for UMass after pitching seven innings with six strikeouts while allowing only three runs on seven hits. Jack Niedringhaus recorded his fourth save by striking out three batters over two innings without giving up any runs. Carrson Sova took the loss for Bowling Green after giving up five runs over five innings pitched.
The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 18 starting at noon, with both games available for streaming.
