UMass baseball falls to UCF, again

Baseball
Eli Rosenswaike

The Massachusetts baseball team (0-2) made things interesting Saturday night against the UCF Golden Knights (10-9), but suffered the same fate as Friday, losing 5-2.

UCF jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, getting to freshman starter Jared Freni. Freni settled down after the second inning, and shut down the opposition for the next four frames. Freni was a bit erratic in his six innings of work (6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 4 K) but he showed his poise by inducing a double-play in the sixth inning to excape a big jam.

UMass came close to tying the ballgame in the 8th inning, when they had the bases loaded down 4-2. But Jim MacDonald grounded out to third on a full count to end the rally.

UCF added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning to push the lead to 5-2.

UMass only managed to scrounge five hits together, as UCF starter Mitch Houck was outstanding -- striking out 10 and only allowing three hits in his seven innings of work. Houck pulled off a rare feat in the fourth inning, striking out four UMass batters. He struck out Donato, Munsey, Franczek and Rankin. Munsey reached first after the third strike got away from the UCF catcher.

Last year it was the poor pitching that ailed the Minutemen, but so far it has been the hitting that has really been struggling for Mike Stone's squad.

The teams play again tommorow, at 1 p.m.