Baseball Atlantic 10 Conference

Eighth-Inning Homer Propels No. 3 Rhode Island to Win

May 23, 2012

2012 Baseball Game 3 URI-UM Get Acrobat Reader

BRONX, N.Y.—An eighth inning home run gave No. 3 Rhode Island a 6-5 win over fourth-seeded Massachusetts Wednesday night in the game three of the 2012 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championships at Fordham’s Houlihan Park.

Rhode Island advanced to Thursday for a consolation bracket game at 7:00 pm against the loser of one of Thursday’s two early games. UMass was eliminated and finishes the season at (22-22).

URI senior third baseman Dan Haverstick was the hero for Rhode Island, hitting the game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to drive in catcher Milan Adams. Haverstick’s left field shot turned what had been a one-run deficit for most of the game and made it a 6-5 advantage.

UMass tried to rally in the top of the ninth, starting with a two-out single to left by first baseman Dylan Begin. Nik Campero, the third baseman, then singled to push Jeff Cavanaro, who pinch ran for Begin, to second. A fly-out ended the inning and the Minutemen rally.

Begin led the Minutemen with a 3-for-4 performance with two RBI. He extended his league-leading hitting streak to 18 games. A sophomore, he will carry the hitting streak into next season. Catcher Tom Conley also had three hits with a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate.

Mike Bradstreet (3-3) picked up the win, throwing 1.1 shutout innings of three-hit ball. Joe Popielarczyk (6-2) took the loss, throwing 7.1 innings, allowing 11 hits and six runs (five earned).

Second baseman Rob McLam hit a lead-off single and scored on wild pitch to give UMass an early one-run lead.

Rhode Island responded in the bottom of the second inning with four runs. Left fielder Chris Famiglietti doubled to drive in designated hitter Pat Quinn and second baseman Pat Fortunato. Jeff Roy, the Rams centerfielder, followed with a two-RBI double that drove in Haverstick and Famigletti.

Massachusetts returned the favor half an inning later when right fielder Kyle Adie scored on a groundout by centerfielder Anthony Serino. Begin then hit a two-run homer, scoring Conley. An Alex Tuneski single through the left side plated Campero to give the lead back to UMass until Rhody took the lead for good in the eighth.

Shortstop Tim Caputo, Quinn and Famiglietti each had two hits to lead Rhody. Roy, Haverstick and Famiglietti each tallied a pair of RBI.