Baseball Falls to UMass in Opener, 2-1

The Central Connecticut baseball team fell in the season-opener against Massachusetts, 2-1, on Saturday at CCSU Baseball Field. Junior Brandon Fox tossed five shutout innings for CCSU, but UMass managed to score two runs in the eighth for the win.

The Blue Devils opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Sam Loda ledd off with a walk and then stole second. He advanced to third base on junior Chris Kanios ground out. Sophomore Jay Devito followed with a slow roller to third and Loda managed to beat the throw home to make it 1-0.

Fox would make the lead hold as he went five innings in the start. He did not allow a runner to reach second base on the day and scattered four hits, while striking out one.

Junior Andrew Braun relieved Fox and tossed two shutout innings and struck out four.

The Minutemen managed to rally in the top of the eighth. After a ground out to open the inning, UMass strung together back-to-back singles. Another groundout moved the runners into scoring position before Luke Oliphant followed with a single to center field. Connor Smith scored from third and Alec Norton came home from second to make it 2-1. 

Kanios would reach on a hit-by-pitch in the ninth and stole second, but the Minutemen would leave him stranded to end the game.

Junior Chandler Debrosse and sophomores Jake Siracusa and Matt Bertochi each had singles for Central.

Justin Lasko started for UMass and went 5.2 innings. He allowed three singles and struck out 11, while walking three and allowing a run. Brad Collins tossed 1.2 shutout innings to get the win. Casey Aubin got the save.